Introduction Since 2006, the Forum has spearheaded transitional justice (TJ) issues in Zimbabwe. The history of Zimbabwe has been marred by several episodes of violent conflict that have created deep divisions within society, not least of which was the protracted and violent struggle against white minority rule which led to the emergence of Zimbabwe as a fully independent state. In terms of reconciliation and justice, Zimbabwe's violent pre-independence past was never addressed by way of a coordinated transitional justice process. Following Zimbabwe's attainment of independence, episodes of violent internal conflicts ensued and negatively impacted on Zimbabwe's development. These include: the Midlands and Matabeleland atrocities in the 1980s, also known as Gukurahundi where it is estimated that over 20,000 people lost their lives; the 1995 electoral violence against the opposition Zimbabwe Unity Movement, the Food Riots of 1998; waves of violent farm invasions since 2000; election-related violence since 2000; the displacement of over 700 000 Zimbabweans in the high-density areas of Zimbabwe during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005; and the June 2008 presidential run-off election that was characterised by politically-motivated violence. No justice and/or healing process at a national and community level has taken place following these events. There has been no comprehensive approach addressing these past gross human rights violations. From the perspective of civil society, there are clear minimum conditions that need to be met to satisfy the demands transitional justice in a comprehensive manner. These build upon the resolutions of the Johannesburg Symposium of 2003 (Civil Society and Justice in Zimbabwe) the first major meeting of a variety of stakeholders convened to discuss issues of transitional justice in Zimbabwe.4 In 2008, civil society organisations in Zimbabwe adopted the Symposium's minimum conditions5 for a lasting closure of Zimbabwe's violent past, that is, that the process of transitional justice in Zimbabwe should: ► ► ► 4 5 Be victim-centred Be a comprehensive, participatory, inclusive and consultative process Seek the establishment of the truth See Penny Morrel (ed) (2004), Civil society and justice in Zimbabwe: proceedings of a symposium held in Johannesburg 11-13 August 2003, Southern African Trauma Coalition (SATC). See the Report of the meeting organised by the Civil Society on the way forward on transitional justice in 2008. Truth Commissions: the Best Practices 1