THE National Chiefs’ Council has endorsed and approved the roll out of the Gukurahundi hearings outreach programme set to begin on June 26.

Speaking at a media briefing in Bulawayo this Sunday, the deputy president of the National Chiefs’ Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, said the government is ready to compensate Gukurahundi victims, with the hearings expected to be conducted in closed sessions.

“This programme was endorsed by President Mnangagwa himself who decided to open up on issues of Gukurahundi to allow victims to be able to submit to their respective chief. We started with the awareness programme from the 27 of May 27 to June 5,” he said.

“This is when chiefs met people in their communities to make them aware that the President has opened up this issue and submissions will be made to the Chief and in cases where compensation is required, government is ready to compensate the victims, that is why we encourage people who have suffered some loss or harm during Gukurahundi to come forward. Our approach is victim centred, it is not a public hearing due to sensitivity and the private nature of the hearings.”

He further explained that for the past three days, the Steering Committee of the National Chiefs’ Council has been convening in Bulawayo to address logistical matters.

Rapporteurs received training on Saturday, and all chiefs submitted reports on the outcomes of their respective awareness campaigns.