Musabayana allegedly told participants that “We are all ZANU-PF members and we feed on the same breast which is ZANU-PF.” In Bindura, Mashonaland Central, Honourable M. Bimha politicized the meeting in his address. In Matebeleland regions, it was noted that there was poor turn-out of women and youths and participants called for an international organization or the Church to deal with disturbances of the past due to the lack of trust and confidence in the NPRC. It was reported that in other areas, some political parties boycotted the meetings and branded the Commission as a tool of another political party. It was reported that officers from ZRP’s PISI usually suspected by victims to be CIO members were taking pictures at meetings, and this caused a lot of discomforts. At the meetings that turned ugly, participants reported that the Commissioners seemed to have little control of the proceedings and politicians seemed to have free reign; Pressure groups such as Mthwakazi and iBhetshulikazulu questioned the racial composition of the Commissioners which they said was not in the interest of the region and is not reflective of the national outlook. In the Matebeleland regions, it was noted that the Commission did not reflect the diversity of the country. However, in the Shona speaking regions, it was commendable that the Commission spoke the language of the communities. In Mashonaland Central and East, stakeholders complained that Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Executive ended up addressing the meeting, an issue that goes to the heart of the independence of the Commission. Gweru and Midlands In the Midlands areas, participants from rural areas felt marginalization as they could not attend the meetings because of the long distance between the venue and the cities where they stay. Marondera In Marondera, the meeting descended into chaos after Minister of State addressed people and performed a ZANU-PF slogan which incensed participants. Participants who spoke to NPRC Watch said they were unhappy that members of the executive could address the NPRC meetings. In Gweru, it was reported that after the NPRC meeting, ZANU-PF activist approached some of the participants and harassed them for participating in the conference. We have one case of a person who attended the meeting at Chaplin High School who has since fled to Harare. In the Midlands, victim groups complained that from the rural areas, only Chiefs and ZANU-PF leaders attended the meeting because they could afford. Gwanda, Bulawayo and Lupane In Gwanda, Bulawayo and Lupane all the meetings were adjourned due to disruptions by Mthwakazi and iBhetshulikazulu pressure groups which protested the composition of Commission. These are the regions where Gukurahundi occurred, and this is where the Ndebele people are highly concentrated. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 27