Dorcas Rumano
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) held its last outreach programme meeting in Bulawayo today.
Presiding over the proceedings at the meeting, Chairperson of NPRC Retired Justice Selo Nare said, “The NPRC appreciates the honour bestowed upon it by the people of Zimbabwe, constituting the Commission as the vehicle of peace and reconciliation agenda.
“This is the bold step towards healing our past, redressing our current hurts and fears and resetting the foundation for peace from now and in future. The NPRC was conferred in accordance to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act number 20, which is National Peace and Reconciliation Act Chapter 10:32, 2018.”
“The establishment of the NPRC is the realisation of the social and political will and aspiration of Zimbabweans to transition from a conflictual past to a harmonious future. The NPRC’s mechanism is for resolving the burdens of the past violent conflicts and build national and sub-national capacities that guarantee a future of peace and reconciliation.
“The Commission will also conciliate and mediate disputes when they arise and put in place institutional frameworks and mechanisms for prevention of the recurrence of violent conflicts in the future.”
Human rights defender and Women Of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) leader, Jennifer Williams who was also present, said she was at first sceptical about the programmes of NPRC, but said she would work with the Commission in terms of supporting victims and helping them overcome trauma. Williams called on more stakeholders to join the NPRC’s activities to achieve national peace.
Williams said the NPRC had been very responsive to the need for gender, and that she was excited that the Commission brought in the issue of diversity in terms of tribal, race, gender and ethnicity.
The purpose of the NRPC outreach programme is to introduce the Commissions to the nation as well as presenting the 2019 plans and the five year strategic planning of the NPRC.
The NPRC is starting to roll the national peace committees in provinces, districts and ward level which will see the overall work of the Commission.
