THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) organised a Transitional Justice Symposium in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe from 21 to 23 November 2018. The theme of the conference was “Never Again: Defining the Transitional Justice Agenda in Zimbabwe”. The Symposium took place over a three - day period with venues spread all over Matabeleland in Bulawayo’s Nesbitt Castle, Bulawayo urban and a number of sites of atrocities across Bulawayo and the neighbouring communities. The meeting attracted 90 of the affiliates of the NTJWG as well as statutory bodies including the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Members of Parliament, academics from the Africa University, Catholic University, Solusi University, youth organisations, church and religious leaders, traditional leaders, representatives from the security sector, the labour movement, the business community, the media, government departments, international actors working for institutions such as the International Centre for Transitional Justice, Swisspeace, transitional justice experts from Uganda and South Africa, a former Commissioner from the Kenya Truth and Justice Commission, the African Union Commission and several community based organisations working on transitional justice issues in Zimbabwe. The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) was a key partner in the process and guided discussions on major issues around reconciliation, victim support, leadership transformation as well as bringing in the African Union perspectives on transitional justice. Following the opening festivities, The Symposium opened with background presentations from the perspective of civil society. Tony Reeler walked the delegates 1 through Zimbabwe’s transitional justice journey highlighting the contributions of different transitional justice actors. Tony’s presentation noted that the policy of reconciliation was not new. It had been proclaimed in 1980 but was hampered by lack of sincerity on the side of leadership and continued violence. In the face of violence, civil society were a line of defence and support for many victims. Their work in documenting violations was in itself a truth seeking tool, a resource for the commissions today and the future. His presentation was followed by the National Peace and Reconciliation (NPRC) representing the official transitional justice process. NPRC Chairperson Justice Selo Nare’s presentation summarised the functions of the NPRC focusing his discussion to three key issues which are: i. Healing ii. Reconciliation and iii. Forgiveness Commissioner Ndoro spoke extensively about the history of violence in Zimbabwe ending with locating the role of the NPRC as a Constitutional body, and outlining its ten functions as well as the proposed strategy for dispensing its constitutional mandate. She summarised the achievements of the NPRC since its establishment. These include capacity building programmes, public consultations, conflict mapping, establishment of an early warning early response mechanisms ahead of the 2018 elections and coordinating the signing of the peace pledge. Commissioner Ndoro informed participants that the NPRC had established internal and external committees which could effectively help the body to achieve its objectives. She however, mentioned that the NPRC will need to work on building trust among citizens and stakeholders if it is to achieve better results. 2018 TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE POLICY SYMPOSIUM REPORT