I n s t i t u t e fo r j us t ice a n d r eco n ci l iat i o n a fr ic a pr o g r a m m e public officials – repressive governments tend to entrench their doctrines throughout state institutions. Often, certain public institutions, including the judiciary, police, military and state-intelligence agencies, have contributed directly to repression and other humanrights violations. In Zimbabwe, institutional reform will have to include retraining of the security forces, as they have been implicated in the perpetration of violence and have failed to investigate cases of political violence. 5 Memorialisation and collective memory Memorialisation is about honouring the dignity, suffering and humanity of victims, both living and dead, and commemorating the struggles and suffering of individuals and communities.24 Such a process aims to contribute to healing and reconciliation, and to ensure that history is never forgotten, regardless of how horrific it may have been. Memorialisation usually comes after the initial phase of transition, and can be achieved by constructing monuments and museums, establishing national days of remembrance, and including information about the past in the school curriculum.25 Transitional-justice processes have serious implications in terms of human, technical and financial resources, and this can create problems for emerging democracies, especially where state coffers have been depleted by the previous regime. It is, however, generally agreed that efforts have to be made to source the funds, and that failing to address the abuses of the past can lead to countries paying a much higher price in the long run. Where transitional governments cannot meet the costs of transitional justice, donors can be approached. This should be approached cautiously, however, as donors may have their own agendas and wish to attach conditions to funds they provide.26 Other key terms and definitions Certain key terms have specific meanings in the context of transitional justice. For ease of access, these are listed below in alphabetical order and briefly explained. Accountability Post-conflict justice is premised on the understanding that domestic stability, security and democratic governance in the aftermath of atrocities perpetrated by a repressive regime are strengthened by a commitment to accountability. This involves acknowledging and taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, and suffering punishment if the actions and decisions were illegal. Accountability is often used synonymously with such concepts as liability, responsibility, answerability and blameworthiness. As argued above, perpetrators of violence and human-rights abuses must be held accountable for their actions in order to help prevent future violations. Acknowledgement This means owning up to or admitting one’s part in the commission of an act. Acknowledgement is about accepting responsibility for one’s actions, recognising another person’s desire to understand why the actions were carried out, and his/her need to come to terms with what happened. It allows a wronged person an opportunity to grieve and arrive at a decision about whether or not to forgive the perpetrator. It also raised the possibility of compensation. Acknowledgement in this context does not involve prosecution or persecution of the perpetrators; it is merely a process of finding out what happened so that victims and/or their families can move on. In Zimbabwe the issue of acknowledgement has arisen in discussions on transitional 24 Jelin 2007. 25 In Chile, for example, the government built a number of historical markers in the early to mid-1990s. Known as sitios de memoria or memory sites, they commemorate and honour those who suffered and died under the Pinochet regime, which ended in 1990. 26 Kritz 1995:xxxi; RAU 2010:32. 6