EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The reporting year 2017 - 2018 was characterised by groundbreaking activities for the NTJWG. The social, political and economic environment in Zimbabwe during the reporting period was also laden with a lot of developments. On the 14th of November, 2017 Zimbabwe experienced a military coup which deposed the long-standing President Robert Mugabe from the Presidency. Fears of war and excitement of the removal of the geriatric caused confusion among citizens. Events that followed removed Mugabe from power and his erstwhile comrade Emmerson Mnangagwa took over forming a “caretaker” government that would lead to a general election on 30 June 2018. Amidst all this chaos, questions were raised about what would happen to Mugabe with regards to accountability for past human rights violations such as Gukurahundi, the bloody 2008 post-election violence, Operation Murambatsvina and other unpleasant epochs of violence that occurred during his tenure. These questions seemed challenging to answer, and Mugabe left the Presidency without being charged or questioned for any wrongdoing protected by his colleagues now in charge of the new Government. Mugabe left with a pension package guaranteed by the Government. This whole scenario raises a lot of questions about the state of transitional justice in the country and more needs to be done by stakeholders. On the transitional justice front, the Government moved to put the NPRC Act into force ON 5 January 2018. The NPRC Commissioners who had already been appointed by Mugabe set to commence work albeit without a substantive Chairperson after the previous one Cyril Ndebele passed away on 07 October 2016 in Bulawayo. After critical reflection, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) decided to take the NPRC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 to the High Court of Zimbabwe to stop it from operating illegally by making decisions when they were not fully constituted. The High Court dismissed the matter. NTJWG notes the fact that soon after the court case, the President appointed Retired Justice Sello Masole Nare on 20 February 2018 as the substantive Chairperson of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC). The NTJWG regards the adherence to the rule of law even in matters that look simple such as the composition of the NPRC as being very critical. There will be no shortcuts and cutting of corners in the quest for justice for past human rights violations. However, the NPRC went ahead with its scheduled public meetings soon after the court case. Several of the meetings were held across the country, but most of them were disrupted by the participants, particularly in the Matebeleland region. Key among the issues raised was the point of political interference from some political leaders. Participants complained that they had to travel long distances to the venues used by the NPRC for the meetings. Concern was raised regarding regional representation. The atmosphere under which the public consultations were convened was filled with fear - suspected state security officials/agents could be seen taking pictures of participants. The NTJWG reiterates and calls upon the NPRC to have the public and victims at the centre of their programming to avoid such incidences. Unless adequate protection mechanisms are put in place, victims and survivors will not be free to interact with the NPRC. The highlight of 2018 was the Transitional Justice Symposium, which was held in November 2018 in Bulawayo. The meeting brought together stakeholders from across the country as well as renowned international partners who have worked with the NTJWG 3