4. People’s Expectations to the NPRC  What important issues should be included within the reconciliation framework? All the respondents had high expectations regarding the NPRC. Some respondents highlighted that they expected the NPRC to raise awareness and educate citizens on justice, peace building and conflict prevention as part of its work. Other respondents wanted the NPRC to be able to ensure that the ―police should be there to maintain order and enforce justice,‖ rather than being partisan when executing their duties. The NPRC must ensure that the structures are decentralised to districts or ward level such that the services might be accessible by all the citizens of Zimbabwe. The respondents highlighted that they hoped to see a functioning NPRC that is neutral and sincere in the reconciliation and healing of Zimbabwe through truth seeking, truth telling and reparations. The respondents highlighted that the NPRC must at all cost protect victims and witnesses from victimisation by perpetrators of violence. The respondents also highlighted that the NPRC should incorporate traditional peacebuilding mechanisms of reconciliation. There were also demands for public education at grassroots level about the NPRC and its responsibilities, how it will interact with the victims and perpetrators. In addition the respondents highlighted that the NPRC must ensure that people are conscientised about their rights and freedoms to allow meaningful participation. The respondents indicated that the NPRC must combat tribalism and ethnic differences by promoting cultural tolerance and diversity. The respondents also said they anticipated to see an NPRC that is gender sensitive. 5. Issues that Could Affect Participation in Reconciliation Consultative Processes  What issues could affect participation in reconciliation processes? All the respondents expressed concern about public participation on the NPRC processes. They indicated that most citizens may not participate in consultative processes due to lack of knowledge by the citizens, disturbance from political parties, politicisation of the process, lack of awareness on the part of communities, poverty, partisan individuals leading the process and fear of the unknown. All the respondents expressed concern about the possible interference of politicians and political parties in the NPRC consultative processes. Findings confirmed that history has taught Zimbabwean citizens that political leaders’ interference affects public participation in the reconciliation processes largely because most of them are perpetrators of violence or once victims of the same1. This in turn leads to lack of trust in the whole NPRC consultative processes. 1 Ngwenya, D and Harris G. (2015) The consequences of not healing: Evidence from the Gukurahundi violence in Zimbabwe Vol, 15 (2) pp35 – 53 3