iii. Accountability
The war veterans who were responsible for electoral violence must be held accountable:
“Panyaya yepolitical violence yakaiitika, dai hurumende yagadzirisa nyaya yema war veterans kuti
panouyazve mamwe maelections, zvakaitika izvi zvisadzokorodzeka nekuti mawar veterans iwaya
ndiwo ainyanya kurova nekuvhundutsira vanhu.” [“Regarding the recent acts of political
violence, the government must deal with the war veterans so that there is no violence
in the next elections because the war veterans were at the forefront of beating and
intimidating people.”]
The perpetrators must be dealt with once and for all so that they won’t repeat what they
did [male participant].
iv. Reparations
• The human rights crises created by Murambatsvina must be addressed: “Ini ndinoda
kutaura nezve Tsunami yakakaitika 2007 iya. Vamwe takatozouya kuno kumusha nekuti takange
tisisina pekugara. Taiva self employed asi nazvino hatina pekushandira. Saka dai hurumende
yazotigadzirirawo kana tuma home industries kuti tiwane pekushandira. Vakaitwa displaced
vasina pekugara vovakirwa pekugara.” [“I want to talk about Tsunami which happened
in 2007. Some of us had to come here to the countryside for we were now homeless.
We were self-employed and up to now we have no employment. So we appeal to the
government to set up home industries so that we can work. Those who were displaced,
something must be built for them so that they have a place to stay.”]
Note: Tsunami is a code name that was given to Murambatsvina by members of the
public due to the ferocity with which the campaign was unleashed.
• All victims of political violence must be compensated adequately [the women and
farmers groups].
v. Reconciliation
• The current state of political activity has divided family units. The society and families
are now run by slogans, whether it’s food distribution or any other activity. There is
need to reunite the families and community values on the family. This can happen if
sound rule of law is brought back [women].
• Opportunities must be levelled because women were the ones that worked for families,
and if they are rehabilitated and their source of livelihood restored, then they can feed
their families again.
7. OBSERVATIONS
The meeting was attended by political activists from the two main political parties, ZANU(PF) and
MDC–T. The participation of local business people was exceptional, as they touched a broad range
of issues affecting rural communities. This was one of the few meetings where participants talked
about economic democracy. However, participants seemed to avoid political issues.
Taking Transitional Justice to the People – Outreach Report
43
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