A HUMAN rights watchdog has called on government to set up a secretariat for the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) to ensure the body does not remain a toothless bulldog.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
President Robert Mugabe recently appointed a nine-member NPRC chaired by Bishop Emeritus Ambrose Moyo, but Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) said this was not enough and urged government to go a step further and appoint a secretariat for the commission.
Lilian Chigwedere will serve as deputy chairperson of the commission, which also includes Patience Chiradza, Choice Ndoro, Netty Musanhu, Charles Masunungure, Geoffrey Chada, Leslie Ncube and Godfrey Chekenyere.
“Heal Zimbabwe, however, notes that appointing the commissioners alone is not enough. The government should also swiftly put in place all the necessary support to the setting up of a secretariat for the commission,” HZT said in a statement.
“This will enable the NPRC to carry out its constitutional mandate of ensuring post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation.”
The NPRC is one of the five independent commissions established by Chapter 12 of the Constitution, but is the only one with a time frame of 10 years from the date that the Constitution was adopted in 2013.
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The commission, whose major functions will include ensuring post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation, was supposed to become operational in 2013 when Zimbabwe adopted the new Constitution.
Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee (SROC) completed interviews for prospective commissioners late last year and submitted the names of shortlisted candidates to Mugabe for appointment.
HZT applauded the government for finally realising the need for the setting up of the NPRC through appointing commissioners.
”Heal Zimbabwe applauds the Executive in appointing the NPRC Commissioners and welcomes the move as it allows the commission to commence the big task that lies ahead.
“It is encouraging that the appointing of the commission comes barely three weeks after Heal Zimbabwe and other civil society organisations petitioned the government to move with speed in setting up the NPRC. Heal Zimbabwe will continue to add its voice to all progressive calls for the full operationalisation of the NPRC.”
