Executive Summary Transitional justice in Zimbabwe Before its attainment of independence in 1980, Zimbabwe (then known as Rhodesia) had been under colonial rule since 1890. Between 1972 and 1979 there was a violent struggle for independence. In terms of reconciliation and justice, Zimbabwe’s violent colonial past was never addressed by way of a co-ordinated transitional justice process. Following the attainment of independence, violent internal conflicts continued to impact seriously on Zimbabwe’s development, in particular: the Gukurahundi in the Midlands and Matabeleland in the 1980s;3 the Food Riots in 1998;4 several waves of farm invasions after 2000; several violent major political events after 2000; the displacement of over 700,000 Zimbabweans in the high-density areas of the country during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005;5 and most notably the June 2008 presidential election run-off, when over 200 people were allegedly killed in politically motivated violence. Following up these tragic events, Zimbabwe and its people are still to experience justice and/or healing at a national and community level. There has been no comprehensive approach towards addressing the past. Government’s response to the episodes of violence has not been sustainable or informed by international best practices. However, since the formation of the Inclusive Government and the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) in 2009, space has opened up for discussion and consultations regarding the most effective way of processing the past, healing the nation and designing a new future. Both ONHRI and civil society in Zimbabwe have committed themselves to transitional justice in some shape or form in order for Zimbabwe to move forward. From a civil society perspective, there are clear minimum conditions that need to be met to satisfy a comprehensive transitional justice approach. These build 3  For detailed information on the Midlands and Matabeleland atrocities, see Catholic Com­ mission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe and Legal Resources Foundation, Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace: Report on the Disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands, 1980 to 1989 (Harare: CCJPZ and LRF, 1997). A summary of the report is available at: <http:// www.kubatana.net/docs/hr/ccjp_lrf_breaking_silence_9904.pdf>. Accessed 29 Jan. 2013. 4  For more information on the 1998 Food Riots, see A Consolidated Report by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, available at <http://www.hrforumzim.org/reports/reports-onpolitical-violence/food-riots-jan-1998>. Accessed 29 Jan. 2013. 5  See United Nations, ‘Report of the Fact-Finding Mission to Zimbabwe to Assess the Scope and Impact of Operation Murambatsvina by the UN Special Envoy on Human Settlements Issues in Zimbabwe Mrs. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka’ (UN, 2005), available at <http://ww2.unhabitat.org/ documents/ZimbabweReport.pdf>. Accessed 29 Jan. 2013. xiv International Conference on Transitional Justice, Zimbabwe