Contextual Analysis of the Operating Environment
In the first session of the meeting, participants were invited to discuss the operating
environment they are currently working in. This was done to give the NTJWG insight into the
issues that stakeholders are currently grappling with in their day to day programming.
Participants highlighted the following issues regarding the current operating environment for
transitional justice stakeholders:
The operating environment has been increasingly deteriorating in recent times;
There is a lot of fear among citizens in discussing transitional justice issues for
example Tree of Life was in Tsholotsho recently and noted that there was a lot of
fear to discuss issues of Gukurahundi;
The economic situation is making it difficult for people to participate in civic
activities;
The government has appealed the High Court judgment that extended the
lifespan of the NPRC. Participants commented that this appeal is indicative of an
attitude of simply giving the impression that efforts to facilitate peace and
reconciliation were made without actually having an effective peace and
reconciliation process;
The NPRC is making efforts to engage different stakeholders in its processes. It
was however pointed out that the NPRC seems to only engage the same actors
in civil society such that time and time again only a handful of the same
organizations can interface with the NPRC. An inquiry was made as to whether
the NPRC has engaged stakeholders to explain its mandate and strategy at all
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