Foreword On 22 May 2013, President Robert Mugabe signed into law the new Summary box Constitution of Zimbabwe following a long constitutional reform process as far back as have 1999. One of the key features of this a • dating The NPRC should 9 Commissioners including Chairperson. Constitution is Chapter 12, which establishes five Independent • The Chairperson the Deputy Chairperson must belong to Commissions Supporting and Democracy. One of the independent different genders. commissions in this Chapter is the National Peace and • Members of the public make nominations to the Parliament Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), which is given the duty to following a public call for nominations. ensure• post-conflict justice, healing, and reconciliation. Parliament makes a shortlist and carries out interviewsThis and makes anotherthe shortlist from the interviews. Commission represents efforts of many organisations including • Parliament presents to the President a organisations list of not less than churches, victim groups, non-governmental and12 nominees. international organisations that have been clamoring for a • The President appoints 8 Commissioners from the list. commission to help the society to terms with its violent past. It in • Commissioners must come be independent and not involved representsparty the hopes of many victims (and survivors) of past human politics. • Commissioners must have experience rights violations that truth, justice and healing may seeinthemediation, light of the day. conciliation, conflict prevention and management, post-conflict reconciliation or peace building. • Commissioners are appointed terms, The successes or failures of the NPRC arefor stillfive-year to be seen. Butwhich whatcan is be renewed once. clear is that an important conversation has already started. The • Commissioners are protected from unfair dismissal from work. success of the NPRC will depend on the general support from all stakeholders and the cooperation of the government. This Guide to Understanding the NPRC is our contribution to ensuring that the NPRC is visible, its purpose understood and supported by all. The Guide is simple to use and understand. Written in plain language, the guide 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 wants to understand the NPRC and its work in Zimbabwe. We hope you will find this guide useful. Muchadehama, Alec (Mr.) NTJWG Chairperson Harare, 2017 35 5