Foreword On 22 May 2013, President Robert Mugabe signed into law the new not be in contradiction with the Constitution. It further means that Constitution Zimbabwe following a long reform the NPRCofAct cannot take away what theconstitutional Constitution has given. process as far back as 1999. One of the key The dating first NPRC Bill was introduced in Parliament in features 2015. ThisofBillthis was rejected isonChapter the basis12, thatwhich it was establishes in violation of many provisions of Constitution five Independent the Constitution of Zimbabwe. A revised Bill independent was introduced Commissions Supporting Democracy. OneNPRC of the back in Parliament in 2017 and was seen by many Zimbabweans commissions in this Chapter is the National Peace and as a great improvement. Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), which is given the duty to ensure andpowers reconciliation. This of The post-conflict NPRC Act setsjustice, out the healing, procedures, and functions the NPRC. It addresses the issues of theorganisations offices and operations Commission represents the efforts of many including of the Commission, removal of members from office, how theand NPRC churches, victim groups, non-governmental organisations will carry out its investigations, the admissibility of evidence and international organisations that have been clamoring for a the issue of witnesses. The NPRC Act has an extensive section commission to help the society withofits the violent past. It on mainstreaming gendercome into to theterms affairs Commission. represents the hopes of many victims (and survivors) of past human It regulates how the NPRC will establish its staff. The Act further a set of offences associated with the administration the rightscreates violations that truth, justice and healing may see the lightofof NPRC. the day. The successes or failures of the NPRC are still to be seen. But what is 2.3 Regulations clear is that an important conversation has already started. The success of the will Act depend on the the general support from all Section 21NPRC of the empowers Commission to make stakeholders and the cooperation of the government. This Guide to regulations that are necessary or convenient for the NPRC to carry out its tasks.the TheNPRC regulations as rules of to enable Understanding is our serve contribution toprocedure ensuring that the the NPRC to conduct its activities and to guide its operations. NPRC is visible, its purpose understood and supported by all. The The law allows Commissioners of the NPRC to establish their own Guide is simple to use and understand. Written in plain language, procedures, so long as the procedures are not in conflict with the the guide law. is a valuable resource for civic education, community leaders and facilitators, schools, survivors of human rights violence human rights defenders, lawyers, lawmakers and anyone who 2.4toThe Law on Gender wants understand the NPRC and its work in Zimbabwe. We hope you will find this guide useful. Both the Constitution and the NPRC Act have strong gender provisions. The Constitution is section 320 (4) requires that the Muchadehama, Chairperson Alec and (Mr.) Deputy Chairperson of the NPRC be not of the same gender. That means were the Chairperson is a woman, the NTJWG Chairperson deputy Harare, 2017must be a man, and vice versa. 13 5