ZIMBABWE: FROM IMPUNITY TO ACCOUNTABILITY ARE REPARATIONS POSSIBLE FOR VICTIMS OF GROSS AND SYSTEMATIC HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS? 1. INTRODUCTION In August 2003 a three-day symposium entitled Civil Society and 1 Justice in Zimbabwe took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together representatives of a large number of Zimbabwe civil society groups with their South African colleagues and other experts from abroad. The symposium sought to foster greater participation by Zimbabwean civil society representatives in discussions regarding the resolution of the present all-round Zimbabwe crisis, as the two main political parties appeared to be on the verge of serious negotiations. Numerous papers were delivered relating directly to the situation in Zimbabwe as well as giving perspectives from other countries that have moved towards more justice-based societies. Open discussions and debate took place, and despite the wide range of organisations and interests that were represented, there was much agreement on the need to move beyond the rhetoric of human rights and to find practical ways of dealing with the reality of Zimbabwe: past, present and future. The right of victims of human rights violations was central to the discussions. Indeed, the primary purpose of the symposium was to highlight the serious concern that the rights and needs of such victims would once again be side-lined, as has happened in Zimbabwe before. Unless the well-documented culture of impunity is resolutely challenged, the abuses are destined to be repeated. 1 Full details of the symposium can be found at http://www.santsep.co.za/satc/zim2003.htm 1