Table 7 above shows that 32.8% of the respondents were more comfortable and interested to see the NPRC (as a government established institution) leading the reconciliation process followed by 19.0% who believed the civic society should lead the reconciliation process. Traditional leaders were the least expected actor to lead the reconciliation process (4.0%) followed by the community itself indicated by only 4.6% of the participants. Most participants said they want the government to lead so that they will see its genuineness in wanting to promote peace while the civic society was considered to be generally neutral and non-partisan. The civic society and local communities have been the most active peace and reconciliation actors in the absence of stateled efforts. Traditional leaders, however, had become very unpopular as a result of their co-optation into state organised and state sponsored violence.61 ii) The commission should be composed of an inclusive and professional secretariat that is skilled enough to withstand and avoid influences from political parties or political biases. The NPRC must also be structured in such a way that allows for a national dialogue among stakeholders such as church leaders, political parties and traditional leaders. It is also imperative that the government establishes a court specifically for handling issues requiring legal remedy. Such a court should build upon the country’s rich traditional and modern court systems. More importantly, traditional leaders should also be involved in facilitating peace and reconciliation processes at the local level. Expected Operational Methodologies Operational considerations refer to methodologies and actions that communities expect to see in the commission’s practical work. The respondents said the NPRC must carry out a baseline study detailing unaddressed national grievances and key peace and reconciliation priorities before beginning its work. Besides, the Commission may need to consider existing baseline findings detailing different peace and reconciliation intervention needs and priorities. Generally, a baseline study may set the tone for a robust peace and reconciliation process as well as ensuring that the commission addresses the needs 61 Some respondents expected that the secretariat of the NPRC, at different levels, should demonstrate experience and competence in conflict mediation and conciliation, and they must not hold positions in any political party. and expectations of the people. From the respondents’ responses, HZT deduces that there must be a broader policy framework that clearly defines the mandate of the commission, allocates timeframes for the commission to handle each case and above all demarcates how far back the commission can investigate past injustices. To observe communities views about the NPRC’s operational questions, HZT asked respondents to rank five major areas around which reconciliation should be anchored. Table 8 below shows responses to the question: Rank five major areas around which reconciliation what should start? Alexander, J. (2014). Things fall apart, the centre can hold: processes of post-war political change in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. Occasional Paper, (8), 131-162. 34 RECONCILIATION PROCESSES IN ZIMBABWE