A Guide to Understanding A Guide to Understanding the the NATIONAL NATIONAL PEACE & RECONCILIATION PEACE & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION COMMISSION IN ZIMBABWE IN ZIMBABWE What exactly is the mandate of Acknowledgments 3.0 the NPRC? The National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) acknowledges given various stakeholders during the “History, despite itssupport wrenching pain,by cannot be unlived, however, development of this guide. if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” Maya Angelou of the NTJWG, which is the Special thanks go to –the secretariat Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. he NPRC has a very broad mandate specified in section 252 of theguide Constitution. are successful listed in different categories This would The not functions have been without the generous to make it easy to read and understand in the tables below. support of our funding partners. T How to read the tables feedback and of information in thiswhat guide, are grateful •For The left columns the table states thewe Constitution saysto the stakeholders who read through the draft guide and gave valuable and they do represent its exact wording of the Constitution. •input. The examples in the right columns of the tables set out the mandate in general terms and are to be used as a guide only.we You should consult the NPRC if you wish understand Finally, owe it to the thousands of victims whoto have requested for the official interpretation of the mandate. These are only akeeps this simplified guide. It is their enduring hope for healing which few examples, the NPRC can do more. us on our feet. Table 1: Functions towards achieving main Goals and Objectives of the NPRC. Function Examples To ensure post-conflict justice -This is a very broad function healing and reconciliation. under which the NPRC can almost to anything it wishes, as long as it is designed to lead to justice, healing and reconciliation after a period of violence, the healing of victims/ society and the rebuilding of relations. This may include programmes like setting up a justice committee to receive complaints from victims who believe that their reports on violations were not handled properly. 16 4