Zimbabwe is participating in the 2026 Commonwealth peace mediation conference, session 3, in Jaipur, India, where delegates are discussing ways of strengthening restorative justice.
The conference runs under the theme: “From Retribution to Restoration: Reimagining Justice Through Mediation in Criminal Law.”
The Zimbabwean delegation, led by the Permanent secretary in Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry, Vimbai Nyemba, highlighted that the conference provides an important platform for countries to exchange experiences on modernising justice systems.
“The conference is examining how justice systems can move beyond punishment to repairing harm, restoring dignity and rebuilding relationships,” said Nyemba.
Presenting a paper titled “Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Foundation: Justice Beyond Adjudication,” Nyemba said Zimbabwe’s Constitution provides a strong legal foundation for restorative justice while safeguarding the rule of law and the rights of victims and accused persons.
Nyemba highlighted section 174 of the Constitution, saying it promotes mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution to improve access to justice.
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“Section 174 encourages the use of mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as a means of broadening access to justice and resolving disputes efficiently,” she said.
She said Zimbabwe has embraced restorative justice principles through a number of initiatives, including pre-trial conferences, prosecutorial discretion, offender rehabilitation programmes and the Pathways to Reintegration Foundation (PAREF).
“We have incorporated restorative justice principles into our criminal justice system through pre-trial conferences, prosecutorial discretion, rehabilitation programmes and the Pathways to Reintegration Foundation, which supports the successful reintegration of former offenders into society,” she said.
Nyemba said the proposed Child Justice Bill seeks to balance accountability with rehabilitation in line with constitutional provisions.
“The proposed Child Justice Bill places the best interests of the child at the centre of the justice system while ensuring that accountability is balanced with rehabilitation, in line with Section 81 of the Constitution,” she said.
Nyemba acknowledged that Zimbabwe, like many other countries, continues to face challenges within its justice system.
“Among the challenges we continue to confront are prison overcrowding, delays in criminal proceedings, repeat offending and the need to further strengthen public confidence in our justice institutions. These challenges reinforce the importance of advancing restorative justice reforms,” she said.
The conference has brought together policymakers, judicial officers, legal practitioners and mediation experts from across the Commonwealth to exchange best practices on strengthening mediation and restorative justice within criminal justice systems.