MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON duty. The greatest challenge so far has been the slow pace of operationalising the N a t i o n a l Pe a c e a n d R e c o n c i l i a t i o n Commission. At the centre of the operationalisation of the NPRC is the legal framework that is set to get the wheels into motion. The level of commitment and zeal demonstrated by the stakeholders in their various areas of expertise was encouraging for the group. “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” These words by Maya Angelou adequately capture the task that NTJWG stakeholders have before them – to face history with courage. NTJWG, during the reporting period, has made itself available to the call to coordinate the work on transitional justice in Zimbabwe. This is essentially a movement to encourage our nation to confront its past with courage. We are glad to note in this report that this work is gathering speed. In the face of adversity, we have seen progress from both government and civil society. As we close the year 2017, we recall on the challenges that we defeated through various collaborative efforts among stakeholders. While the implementation of the constitutional provisions on transitional justice has been slow, stakeholders have stepped in to fill in the gaps and encourage policy makers to live up to their calling to In November 2016, NTJWG, because of the work of stakeholders, was privileged to be invited by the Office of the President and Cabinet during the process of revising the NPRC Bill. True to our task, we reached out to stakeholders all over the country. Two meetings were organised in Harare and Bulawayo to analyse the revised Bill. Stakeholder travelled from Bulawayo and Manicaland to attend the government-led consultative meeting on the revised Bill. The discussions were candid, honest and fruitful. Most of the submissions from that meeting found themselves in the revised Bill. February 2017 saw the re-entry of the NPRC Bill in Parliament and it was received with frank and honest analyses. Our Secretariat, with the help of our funding partners reached out to stakeholders who did justice to the Bill. Reflective meetings were organised with Parliament and NTJWG managed to raise the dialogue to transcend partisan politics. Several parliamentarians invited NTJWG to come to their constituencies to continue the dialogue. The content of the dialogue sessions facilitated by NTJWG greatly influenced the debate in Parliament. As we close the year, there is a real possibility that the NPRC Bill, which has passed both houses, will now be signed by the President. We keep moving forward. Ground work for 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2017