A Guide to Understanding the NATIONAL PEACE & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION IN ZIMBABWE 7.3 Political non - involvement The law requires that members of the NPRC, including the chairperson, be independent and politically neutral. If they are members of a political party on their appointment to the NPRC they will have to resign that membership within 30 days after being appointed. 7.4 Experience The law further requires that “Commissioners be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge and understanding of, and experience in mediation, conciliation, conict prevention and management, post-conict reconciliation or peace building.” 7.5 Duration of ofce The Chairperson and other members are appointed for ve-year terms, which can be renewed once. A Commissioner can only be removed before end of term if they are unable to perform their functions because of physical or mental incapacity, serious incompetence, guilty of serious misconduct or has become ineligible for appointment. Before removal from ofce, the President must appoint a tribunal to consider the question of the removal of a Commissioner in line with the Constitution. The President can only remove the Commissioner when the tribunal makes such a recommendation. This procedure is designed to protect the independence of the Commissioners. 30