vi) Recognition of Civil Society Oversight Mechanism Nowhere in the Bill is the oversight role of Zimbabwe’s civil society mentioned with regards to the work and functions of the Commission. Civil society organisations can play a key role in making sure that victims, their families, survivors and other stakeholders are properly organised when it comes to engaging such bodies as the NPRC. Although there are various mechanisms such as the Auditor General overseeing and auditing the finances of the Commission; the regular reports to Parliament through the Minister, there is every need for an officially recognised process where different civil society groups have access on a regular basis to the Commission. Civil Society Organisations bring a huge value to the Commission given their wide reach to marginalised communities and their cross-sector interventions. Therefore, their official inclusion and involvement in the NPRC could amplify the work of the NPRC. In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission acknowledge the role of civil society and the media as very crucial in the healing process. Therefore, Zimbabwe can also benefit from this lesson by adopting a similar stance. vii) Scope of investigations and definitions of violations The scope of investigation in the Bill does not include other violations like economic and sexual rights as part of violations that will be investigated by the NPRC. In fact, the Bill does not provide a list and definition of violations that will be investigated or be considered by the NPRC during its lifespan. HZT gathered from community leaders all over the country that it would be more preferable to have such violations as sexual crimes against women in a political conflict context; economic crimes perpetrated by individuals and financial institutions during the Zimbabwe dollar era and the turnover to the multi-currency regime and or the government be clearly specified so that they receive special treatment in line with the more obvious rights violations such as torture, assaults, arson etc. While Section 252 of the constitution does not specifically include economic crimes and violations against women as part of the NPRC functions, Section 321 (1) of the Constitution allows an Act of Parliament to confer additional functions on a Commission. Therefore, HZT recommends that the NPRC functions be expanded with specific mention of crimes committed against women, and economic crimes. viii) Acknowledgement of the need to use Zimbabwe’s traditional justice systems in peace and reconciliation by the NPRC There is every need for the NPRC Bill to acknowledge the sheer potential that sits with Zimbabwean traditional justice systems in reviving reconciliation and peace in Zimbabwe. The absence of this acknowledgement is disconcerting for HZT. It is acknowledged that traditional justice mechanisms at times go against the spirit of international human rights violations. However, it is also quite true that in other countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya and far afield as the South Americas, traditional justice systems particular to those societies have been used to achieve justice, reconciliation and peace. HZT enjoins the drafters of the NPRC Bill and all stakeholders to consider making Zimbabwe traditional justice mechanisms part and parcel of the mechanisms to be used by the NPRC. HZT has over the years built the expertise and knowledge around this area and would be more than willing 10