Funding for the NPRC The NTJWG acknowledges that $51 million was allocated by government to the 5 Commissions in October, 2018. However, it is concerned by reports that the NPRC did not access its vote from the funds and that this has paralysed its operations. Inadequate funding will drastically affect the impact of the Commission. The NTJWG would like to know how much funding the NPRC has been allocated by Treasury for the year 2019 and if it is adequate for the task lying ahead. This would help in the NTJWG’s advocacy initiatives as well as knowing how far the funding would take the Commission. The NTJWG further implores the Government to increase the funding of the NPRC bearing in mind the huge task which the Commission is faced with ahead. Adoption of the African Union and National Transitional Justice Policy The NTJWG wants to congratulate the government of Zimbabwe on the adoption of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy by the African Union member states which unanimously adopted the African Union Transitional Justice Policy. The NTJWG would like to offer its expertise in implementing it domestically. The adoption of the A.U T.J policy coincides with the efforts being made by the NTJWG for the adoption of a national transitional justice policy which was conceived out of the NTJWG National Transitional Policy Symposium convened in Bulawayo from 21 to 23 November, 2018. National Human Rights Institutions attended the Symposium. We are happy to share the draft national transitional policy with the government, so it can also influence its intervention strategy. In the introduction of the A.U T.J policy, the African Union Commission Chairperson Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat stated that: “ The significance of human rights and transitional justice (TJ) cannot be overemphasized. This underscores why aspiration three (3), “An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law” and aspiration four (4), “A peaceful and secured Africa”, of Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want – focus on human rights promotion, silencing the guns by 2020, peace, security and development.” We believe our endeavours here speak to this aspiration of the ‘Africa We Want’ to achieve the ‘Zimbabwe We Want.’ The NTJWG calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to support this important initiative to adopt the national transitional justice policy. Conclusion The NTJWG appreciates the opportunity to address to the Office of the Vice President, t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l Pe a c e a n d Reconciliation Commission on National Peace and Reconciliation and hopes to continue on this path of fruitful engagements with the government. This report will be shared with stakeholders and uploaded onto the NTJWG website, including any comments from the NPRC and Government. The NTJWG remains committed to supporting the work of peace and reconciliation in Zimbabwe and acknowledges the progress being made so far. We wish the Government of Zimbabwe all the best. NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP ZIMBABWE Suite 4, Number 1 Raleigh Street, Harare, Zimbabwe. +263 242 770177/8 info@ntjwg.org.zw @ntjwgzimbabwe www.ntjwg.org.zw ntjwg