4.0 The Role of Independent Commissions in Transitional Justice The past few months have witnessed moments of great tragedy in Zimbabwe with attacks against civilian population increasing. It is for times like these that independent commission are expected to show active solidarity with victims under siege. The commissions that are key to this issue are the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC). 4.1 The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Many victims are greatly indebted to the work of the ZHRC in these atrocities. Ahead of the Montlanthe Commission, the ZHRC received complaints of the state violence against civilians. The ZHRC responded, investigated the violations and issued a statement against the violations of human rights. Following the atrocities related to the shutdown, the ZHRC carried out an investigation and found that armed and uniformed members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police instigated systematic torture. The torture was organized, said the ZHRC. It also found that the method of arrest and detention that was used by the police and soldiers amounted to arbitrary arrests and detention, a crackdown as opposed to law enforcement. The Government dismissed the report as biased and offside on what really transpired. The ZHRC did play its role effectively in exposing the fallacy of state denial of the atrocities. As noted in the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum report, On the Days of Darkness in Zimbabwe, the atrocities are still on-going by the time of the compilation of this report. The Constitution in section 243 (1) (f) and (g) gives the ZHRC power to investigate any authority or person alleged to have violated human rights. This will help in ensuring the right to truth for victims. The ZHRC has power to also secure redress for the victims. These Constitutional powers mean that the ZHRC can take it upon itself to pursue the issues complained of by the victims against the State and make sure that perpetrators are brought before the courts. 4.2 The Zimbabwe Gender Commission Serious allegations have surfaced against the military for up to 16 cases of sexual violence including 15 cases of rape against women. The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) is mandated by section 246 of the Constitution to investigate cases of human rights violations relating to 9 STATE OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE 2018 REPORT NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP ZIMBABWE