The proposed abolition of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has sparked debate with critics saying it exposed the state’s lack of political will to address past conflicts including Gukurahundi.
The proposal to abolish the NPRC and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) is contained in the Constitutional Amendment 3 Bill, which provides for several changes to the constitution including extending the term of the president, and that of parliament.
The two independent commissions will be merged with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), if the bill is passed into law.
The NPRC was established under section 251 to 253 of the constitution adopted in 2013 with a 10-year mandate to promote national healing, peace and reconciliation.
The NPRC lost some years of its 10 year lifespan as it was not operational from 2013 as expected due to lack of an enabling Act to operationalise it.
The commission was in 2018 given a five-year mandate to address past conflicts extending to the pre-independence era.
In February 2019, the MDC Alliance proportional representation legislator Concillia Chinanzvavana had to take President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Masvingo High Court seeking a ruling forcing him to extend the tenure of the NPRC by 10 years from 2018.
Justice Joseph Mafusire ruled in her favour, which meant that the NPRC was supposed to be operational until 2028.
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However, its lifespan has not been extended, and it now faces dissolution.
Analysts questioned its effectiveness while others warned the move to abolish it could undermine efforts to address historical injustices such as the Gukurahundi massacres, which left over 20 000 civilians dead in Matabeleland and Midlands.
Former speaker of parliament and leader of the United Movement for Change, Lovemore Moyo, said the commission was never properly structured to deal with historical injustices such as Gukurahundi.
“I don’t think the NPRC had the characteristics required to resolve the issues relating to historical post-independence injustices,” Moyo said.
He argued that reconciliation cannot be achieved without first establishing the truth about past atrocities.
“You cannot begin to deal with peace building and reconciliation before addressing the causes of the conflict,” Moyo said.
“There must first be a truth-telling process and justice mechanisms that allow victims and perpetrators to give accounts.”
Moyo added that a truth and justice inquiry with powers to subpoena witnesses would have been a more appropriate mechanism, similar to models used in countries such as South Africa and Rwanda.
Nkayi South legislator Jabulani Hadebe criticised the proposed move to abolish the NPRC, saying it raises concerns about Mnangagwa’s commitment to justice and reconciliation.
“The proposed abolition of the NPRC raises serious concerns about the
president’s commitment to truth, justice and reconciliation, particularly regarding the Gukurahundi atrocities,” Hadebe said.
He said instead of scrapping the commission, the government should instead strengthen it so it can address the grievances of victims and promote genuine reconciliation.
Civil society groups also weighed in on the debate.
Ibhetshu LikzaZulu secretary general, Mbuso Fuzwayo, said discussions around abolishing it were misplaced.
“The NPRC long expired. What is needed is a genuine process to address Gukurahundi with input from chiefs, victims and the nation,” he said.
Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) spokesperson, Richard Gandari, said the party views the proposed abolition with concern.
“Zimbabweans need to heal from multiple encounters with violence, ranging from the Gukurahundi genocide to enforced disappearances and voter intimidation,” Gandari said.
“There can be no justification for disbanding such a critical institution.”
Political analyst Elvis Ndlovu warned that scrapping the commission could weaken reconciliation efforts.
“It would be regrettable because it could cripple a vehicle of peace and reconciliation in the country and put a dent on the commitment to national healing,” he said.
Other critics, however, said the NPRC has remained a mere talk-show body with nothing to show for its existence.
There have been reports of underfunding of the NPRC to ostensibly frustrate its work.
Emakhandeni-Luveve legislator Descent Bajila (pictured) said the commission had already outlived its constitutional lifespan.
“The NPRC was supposed to close shop in 2023 after failing to deliver on its constitutional mandate within the decade stipulated in 2013,” Bajila said.
Matobo ward 19 councillor Nqobizitha Ngwenya also questioned the effectiveness of the commission, saying concerns remain about how the reconciliation process has been handled.
