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NewsDay

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Masvingo to review progress on the Peace Commission

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The National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) will today meet in Masvingo to evaluate the failure by government to establish a Peace and Reconciliation Commission to deal with politically-motivated human rights violations experienced in past elections.

The National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) will today meet in Masvingo to evaluate the failure by government to establish a Peace and Reconciliation Commission to deal with politically-motivated human rights violations experienced in past elections.

BY TAPIWA ZIVIRA

It is almost four years since Zimbabwe established the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) through Section 251 of the 2013 Constitution, but the organ was still to start work despite the appointment of commissioners who have been gobbling the national fiscus since 2016.

NTJWG chairperson Alec Muchadehama said the rising political tensions and the unaddressed wounds of past violence created an obligation for Zimbabweans to act and put an end to a legacy of violence.

“We are bringing stakeholders in Masvingo to take stock on how far the nation has gone in operationalising the peace architecture,” he said.

In a survey in Wedza, Chinhoyi, Karoi and Hurungwe, NewsDay established that cases of intimidation of mainly opposition political party supporters were still prevalent, with mostly traditional leaders and Zanu PF youths being the major perpetrators.

NTJWG co-ordinator Dzikamai Bere said they would hold more meetings in Mutare and Mutasa.

“National healing is everyone’s business,” he said. “It is important that everyone takes part in the process. That is why Masvingo is having this discussion.”

Despite having gone through various phases of political conflict, which date back to the pre-colonial period, Zimbabwe has never conducted a peace and healing process.