Gokwe Centre: Paricipants pledging for peace at a National Peace Concert organized by HZT. Draconian laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) continue to stifle peace and reconciliation efforts in Zimbabwe. This is despite the fact that Zimbabwe adopted a new constitution in 2013. Section 79 of AIPPA suppresses freedom of the press by strictly censoring information that can be published through accredited journalists.21 many other freedoms. Since its enactment in January 2002, POSA has been used to outlaw any opposition parties’ supporters, independent media and human rights activists meetings. With the continued existence of such draconian laws, peace and reconciliation remain difficult to facilitate because all community oriented meetings are expected to be cleared and sanctioned before they are convened. Journalists that work without state approval risk two years imprisonment. This compromises news circulation and publication of research findings that may aid peace and reconciliation in the country. On the other hand, POSA inhibits freedom of assembly and freedom of speech among The constitutionally mandated NPRC is yet to become operational even though it should have been established just after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2013. Two NPRC Bills have been tabled before the Parliament without success. The first Bill was gazetted in December 2015 Government of Zimbabwe (2003) Access to Information and Privacy Protection Act [Chapter 10.27] Government of Zimbabwe 21 12 RECONCILIATION PROCESSES IN ZIMBABWE

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