Mental and emotional healing (Mini lecture, drama and group work) This form of healing applies to trauma caused by acts of aggression and violence, such as intimidation, harassment, assault, arrest and abductions, among others. Overt violence tends to be physical in nature, whilst covert cases of violence are more psychologically based. Covert violations are often difficult to detect as compared with the more overt ones, and, although the two forms seem different, they both cause harm to the individual and community. Both forms of violence cause people to live in fear of the unknown and affect their ability to carry out their normal everyday activities. Considering the haphazard way in which acts of violence occur, and the way in which life is lived during periods of political or social upheaval, trauma can be experienced both during and after occurrence of the violence. South Africa, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have in the past been marked by extreme levels of violence. Subsequently, there were thousands of direct and indirect survivors of these conflicts who had suffered, and are still suffering, from a range of psychologically related conditions. Direct survivors include those exposed directly to experiences of violence, like torture, assault and attempted killings. Indirect survivors include the families and relatives whose loved ones have ‘disappeared’, been victimised or have been murdered (Hamber, 1995). In South Africa, the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act includes both these groups of survivors in its definition of ‘victims’. The Act defines ‘victims’ as all those who have ‘suffered physical or mental injury, emotional suffering or a substantial impairment of human rights due to gross violation of human rights associated with the political conflicts of the past’. Repressed pain and trauma generally block emotional life, have psychologically adverse consequences and manifest themselves in physical symptoms (Miller, 1991). The Zimbabwean government, in conjunction with civil society organisations (CSOs), should take the lead and offer victims of violence counselling services over and above platforms for truthtelling and reconciliation. This will also help to enable mental and emotional wounds to be dealt with (see Module 6). The role played by the family friend and ‘go-between’ is crucial in the psychological healing process. In many African cultures, the individual has a friend who may be approached in order to obtain an audience with the aggrieved family in times of conflict. In this case, friends assume the role of linking the outside world and the family. These are individuals who are highly respected within a particular family and who are able to speak without ‘ruffling feathers’. This particular position allows them to speak on sensitive matters pertaining to conflict and mediation. The go-between is an important person in peace building, healing and reconciliation and often negotiates between families (shuttle diplomacy) in both preventative and mitigatory circumstances. The truth-telling process can thus be facilitated by these individuals, as resort to them allows for an atmosphere that is free from tension, thereby giving each victim the opportunity to air his or her views without fear of victimisation. 26 Community Healing: A training manual for Zimbabwe