the hearing was used as a torture base during the 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 election violence
where people were subjected to gross human rights violations. In addition, the venue for the
Harare hearing was Parliament, and several participants complained about the venue citing strict
entry conditions which were not necessary for a public event. Close to 20 people were turned
away for" inappropriate dressing"(short dresses, casual wear etc) a move that was seen by many
as discriminatory for a public gathering. 11 people were also turned away for failing to produce
identity cards.
2. CONTEXT
The Zimbabwean Constitution adopted in 2013 provides for the establishment of the National
Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) hence the need for enacting appropriate law. If
passed into law, the NPRC Act will provide the legal basis on which the NPRC will implement
its mandate. However, in its current form, this NPRC Bill violates the constitutional provisions
that establish the Commission in various ways basing on the submissions made by members of
the public during the Parliamentary public hearings.
The national healing and reconciliation debate in Zimbabwe has its roots firmly grounded in the
Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) as established through the
2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA). The ONHRI can be credited for commencing the
conversations on what mechanisms are required to address past violations and putting in place an
infrastructure for peace. However, the adoption of the new Zimbabwean Constitution in 2013,
paved way for an NPRC through Chapter 12. This means the NPRC becomes the central
institution tasked with ensuring that atrocities of the past are dealt with. Heal Zimbabwe Trust is
convinced that any process that seeks to deal with Zimbabwe’s past history of human rights
violations will have to be comprehensive, inclusive of all stakeholders and should address key
transitional justice pillars namely; promotion of truth, justice and accountability, reparations,
memorialisation, gender and institutional reform.
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