It was this 7 March 2018 reflection that made us realise that national healing is a
deep issue. Much deeper that than single programme of government. It was then,
that we commenced the process of bringing everyone together for a time of collective
reflection. 9 month later, we found ourselves in the City of Kings, meeting with
many families that have experienced the worst from of violence one can ever
imagined. We spoke with church leaders that have been caring for victims of
violence. We spent time with trauma healers who opened unto us the magnitude of
the trauma in our country. Through the art of young people Victory Siyanqoba
Trust, we came face to face with the ugliness of Gukurahundi. We listened to their
stories. Our resolve to defeat the past of violence was strengthened the last three
days as voices of the survivors dominated the conversations.
We resolved even more strongly to say Never Again. The world over, echoes were
head from Amagugu Heritage Village, that it is time to say Never Again! The
hashtag #NeverAgainZW conquered the world and energised the young generation
to care for truth and justice.
As we come to the close of the symposium, stakeholders have agreed that there is
work to be done and it shall be done. We have understood the true meaning of
transitional justice – it is the restoration of our dignity as a people, our
Ubuntu/hunhu wedu. Many civil society organisations have been on this. And we
want government to be part of it.
A transitional justice policy means we want this values system that says the
wounded must be healed to be government’s way of doing business.. The good
work done by civil society over the years must be government policy so that state
resources are deployed for this important healing work. What that means in reality
is that victims of past atrocities must be able to walk into a government institution
and received the care and support that they need to go one.
It means when a government speak today, tomorrow it will hold its word sacred and
believe in truth, truth recovery and truth seeking. It means the government will be
at the forefront of defending human rights. It means government institutions like the
military and the policy actually do protect life and not destroy it. It means when our
children meet a person dressed as a police officer, they feel safe because the police
are actually for the people and not against the people.
This in short is the reality of what a transitional justice policy must deliver for
Zimbabwe. A pathway to peace that not only says Never Again to violence but
actually builds our national architecture for compassion.
3