NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP ZIMBABWE THE NPRC BRIEF NTJWG - NPRC BRIEFING | 15 MARCH 2018 ABOUT THIS BRIEFING Congratulatory Message Against this background, the NTJWG congratulated the Commission for commencing its work which seeks to promote national healing, reconciliation and integration in the country. The NTJWG also congratulated the Commission on the appointment of Justice S.M Nare as the Chairperson of the Commission. This is a step which stakeholders have called for to ensure that the Commission is adequately capacitated to carry out its work with a full complementation of Commissioners. The NTJWG extended its friendship and noted that it hoped to continue work of supporting the Commission in ensuring that it is effective in dispensing its constitutional mandate. ISSUES PRESENTED Recommendations from the Conference: From a number of issues raised by Stakeholders, the following recommendations require the attention of the NPRC as it relates to the healing process in Zimbabwe: • The ‘let bygones be bygones’ mantra does not reflect a progressive and victim-centred approach to transitional justice and conflict transformation. If any, such statements should not come from government but from the victims This briefing was presented to the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission on 15 March, 2018. The briefing draws from the monitoring work done by NTJWG and the views obtained by NTJWG from stakeholders who are concerned with the national peace and reconciliation process in Zimbabwe. Of great significance is the Stakeholders’ ‘What Next’ Conference held on 7 Februar y, 2018 where stakeholders deliberated on the process and made a number of recommendations regarding the process. The Conference further recommended the capacitating of community-based organisations to enable them to monitor the process themselves and give feedback. This is done through a network of Stakeholder organisations with peace monitors across the country. The reports of the monitors have been received and incorporated into this report. Furthermore, NTJWG has been doing media and environmental scanning, taking note of all matter relevant to the Commission. We believe these reports will assist you in improving the programme and delivering on your mandate. THE NPRC BRIEF – 15 MARCH 2018