v. Reconciliation • True forgiveness does not come from radio announcements. Reconciliation means that the offender must seek his victims and plead for forgiveness after acknowledgment of wrong. • It is wrong for anyone to insist that the victim must forgive and forget while he/she sees the livestock grabbed from his/her home breeding at the neighbour’s house. • It is very painful to continue seeing the people who committed assaults still roaming freely and making more threats. It becomes difficult to forgive and it becomes a big temptation to take the law into one’s hands. • There is need for those who looted to come out, confess and restore other people’s property and be reconciled to their enemies. • Though reconciliation must take place, criminal acts must be punished to satisfy the demands of justice. • A proper judicial process must take place to make sure no innocent persons are ‘bundled’ to prison with the perpetrators. The real truth must be sought. vi. Institutional reform • The security sector needs to work in a way that combats impunity. Political and election related crimes must be treated with gravity, and proper sanction must come upon perpetrators [government employees]. • The police must not allow the political tensions to be an excuse for criminal activities like rape. A male participant complained that they had made several reports during the election period concerning some very serious violations like rape and the police did nothing, saying it was election time. • Reforming the security sector can work to help victims be assured that violence will not come again. • There is need for continuous documentation in the security institutions for the sake of future reference. • The military must stay in the barracks and be confined to their constitutional duties. 7. OBSERVATION There meeting was held during a time when there was heavy military presence in the area. This was reflected in the participants’ views. The area was politically charged following the tension between political parties after the funeral of the late Susan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister’s wife. 32 Taking Transitional Justice to the People – Outreach Report