NTJWG STAKEHOLDERS IN ACTION The NTJWG continued to work with its partners to elevate the transitional justice, peace and reconciliation agenda in Zimbabwe. The collaborations include attending meetings called for by partners, partnering in research activities and facilitating the opening of closed spaces for other partners. On 15 March 2018, the NTJWG participated in a meeting at Chengeta Lodge where one of its partners, Heal Zimbabwe Trust, launched and presented its Baseline Report on Reconciliation in Zimbabwe. The research was conducted from June 2016 to June 2017 across Zimbabwe. In summary, the Baseline Study revealed that communities were concerned generally about politically motivated as well as state-sponsored violence. The 2008 election-related violence, Gukurahundi and Operation Murambatsvina came up in most conversations from the interviewees. Other matters that came up in the report were the lack of political will from the government of Zimbabwe to deal with past human rights violations. The Baseline Report also shared recommendations, and they are summarized below: Ÿ The decentralization of the NPRC in discharging its mandate Ÿ The need to make use of existing institutions as far as its mandate is concerned Ÿ The need for gender-based peace and reconciliation Ÿ The need for institutional reforms and institutionalizing competent courts based on international and regional examples such as Rwanda’s Gacaca courts and Ÿ Synergies and collaborations with State/non-State actors and The NTJWG ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Ÿ providing cutting edge analysis and lobby platforms. S o o n a f t e r t h e N a t i o n a l Pe a c e a n d Reconciliation Act [10:32] (NPRC Act) became law in Zimbabwe, the NTJWG took time again to reiterate its reservations with some of its provisions. The NTJWG noted that the NPRC Act has some weaknesses which threaten the effectiveness of the Commission. These are the lack of victim centeredness, interference by the Executive and controversial power to grant pardons. Establishing adequate victim protection mechanisms While international principles and even the Zimbabwe Constitution recognizes the need to understand victims’ rights, this aspect is omitted from the NPRC Act for unknown reasons. Although Section 10(13) of the NPRC Act provides that the Commission shall ensure safety and protection of witnesses, no reference is made to victims and survivors. In its Minimum Standards for an Effective 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 (NTJWG, 2015:4), the NTJWG stressed the need for adequate protection mechanisms to be put in place for victims and survivors. The needs of victims must be prioritized, and thus deliberate efforts need to be taken to ensure that victims know they are 17