HEAL ZIMBABWE - BASELINE STUDY REPORT victims and witnesses and perpetrators. Kenya has a good commission but it is only in Nairobi and lacks visibility. The security apparatus has more access to the Commission, but the Commission has less capacity. In the same way, ONHRI could have done better if they had the will to work at the lowest community level.77 Collaborative synergies should exist between the NPRC and other government institutions because of the crosscutting issues the Commission aims to address. However, it also shows the importance of ensuring that the synergies are effective. The respondent also referred to the Kenyan a le tent to hi h re on iliation ho l Commission responsible for reconciliation. This brings up the question of whether the Zimbabwean NPRC should borrow lessons from other countries and to what extent. Most research participants (39.6%) indicated that Zimbabwe must draw upon lessons from countries that once experienced or implemented transitional justice processes. Table 11 below shows survey participants responses to the question: To what extent should reconciliation and national healing be informed by international best practices and models such as Truth and Reconciliation Commissions? e infor e international e t pra ti e Ranking Percentages To a greater extent 39.6 To a largest extent 29.5 To a lesser extent 13.6 Not sure 8.9 To a least extent 8.5 Total 100.0 The majority of respondents approved that lessons should be drawn from the international community to a greater extent with 39.6% followed by 29.5% who believed that the NPRC should borrow lessons to the largest extent. Only 8.5% of the respondents said the NPRC should least borrow from international best practices. To summarise what communities want to see the NPRC doing a respondent from Rusape said; Many people talk about revenge. An eye for an eye hoping that some impunity will also protect them. Therefore, there is urgent need to address impunity. While there is need to address the past violations, we must make sure that there is for sustainable peace building by (i) considering participatory decision making, increasing the participation of traditional leaders in peace building processes and promoting outreach activities targeting both perpetrators and victims of violence. (ii) We need criminal justice and closure to the past violations. (iii) Key perpetrator of atrocities must be brought before the courts even after their death. Let’s not detach ourselves from the problems posed by the perpetrators. (iv) There should be NPRC offices around the country so that issues are easily reported by victims and that perpetrators are easily accessed.78 In order for it to deliver peace and reconciliation, the commission must be guided by fairness, transparency, impartiality and inclusiveness as key principles. It must also ensure that it Personal interview with a Secondary school teacher in Mutasa on the 17th of February 2017 Personal Interview with a farmer and resident of Rusape on the 15th of February 2017. 77 78 43

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