1.0 What is the NPRC?
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PRC stands for the National Peace and Reconciliation
Commission. The NPRC is one of the independent Commissions
established by the Constitution of Zimbabwe in 2013. From
2016, Parliament of Zimbabwe debated the law to enable the
NPRC to carry out its work. On 5 January, 2018 the Government
of Zimbabwe gazetted the NPRC Act fully operationalising the
Commission. Chapter 2 addresses all the questions about the law
that establishes and regulates the NPRC.
The NPRC has a very broad constitutional mandate. A constitutional
mandate simply means the authority to carry out particular
work given by the Constitution. According to the Constitution,
the NPRC’s main work is to ensure post-conflict justice, peace,
healing, and reconciliation. How the NPRC is going to do this will
be discussed in greater detail in Chapter three of this Guide.
The NPRC is a temporary Commission. It is expected to complete its
work in ten years. There is no agreement on when to start counting
these ten years. Chapter 4 offers guidance on this issue.
In order to fulfil its constitutional mandate, the NPRC will carry out
numerous activities. The Constitution hints on the various activities
that the NPRC will have to carry. These include investigating
human rights abuses, mediation and research. This Guide explains
the functions of the NPRC fully in Chapter 5.
All the operations and activities of the NPRC will be documented
in yearly reports which must be submitted to Parliament through
the responsible Minister. Additionally, the NPRC may, through the
responsible Minister, submit reports to Parliament on particular
matters relating to national peace and reconciliation. See more
about these reports and recommendations in Chapter 6.
According to the Constitution, the NPRC should be composed
of nine members including the Chairperson. The Chairperson
is appointed separately. In December 2015, former President
Robert Mugabe appointed eight members to the NPRC. These
are Lilian Chigwedere, Patience Chiradza, Choice Ndoro, Netty
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