HEAL ZIMBABWE - BASELINE STUDY REPORT
a le
a or area aro n
hi h re on iliation ho l
Conflict Issues
Percentages
Political violence
55.9
Economic conflicts
12
Family disputes
10.2
Resource based conflicts (including land)
6.5
Race relations
5.3
Ethnic conflicts
4.3
Interpersonal conflicts
3.3
Religious conflicts
2.5
Total
100
As shown in table 8 above, within the eight
categories of conflicts provided, political
violence was most frequently mentioned
by 55.9% of the survey respondents as
one of the major areas around which
peace and reconciliation process should
commence addressing. Economic conflicts
were ranked second by 12% of the survey
respondents followed by family disputes,
resource based conflicts and race related
conflicts. Religious conflicts were ranked
least by 2.5% of the survey respondents.
iii)
tart
Political violence was considered the most
pressing issue requiring redress because
of its widespread effects compared to
other conflict issues. These rankings
depict the reality of the country as many
people in Zimbabwe are victims of political
violence and economic disempowerment,
compared to racial concerns or otherwise.
However, it is important to note that since
Zimbabwe’s independence, ZANU PF
always used racially charged language to
mobilise political support locally, regionally
and internationally.62
Programming actions
In terms of activities that should be
implemented by the NPRC, the study
observed that communities are more
interested
to
have
a
commission
running peace education programs to
promote peaceful co-existence, and
move away from cultures of violence,
acknowledgement of past reconciliation
efforts, public apologies by the government
and individual perpetrators, national
dialogue, investigation and prosecution
of perpetrators, compensation and truth
recovery. Such actions will also ensure the
rights of citizens to live in a peaceful
environment,
free
from
fear
and
intimidation. The commission also needs to
facilitate dialogue platforms that are guided
by freedom of expression and the desire
to reveal the truth and genuine healing
and reconciliation between perpetrators
and victims. Rehabilitation of perpetrators
and victims was also pointed as a key
intervention for the commission. Figure 2
below shows issues that respondents want
to see the NPRC doing within communities
(list any three things you would want to
see the NPRC doing differently).
Muzondidya, J. (2010). The Zimbabwean Crisis and the Unresolved Conundrum of Race in the Post-colonial Period.
Journal of Developing Societies. Volume 26(1)
62
35
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