iii. Accountability • Perpetrators and instigators of political violations and human rights abuses should be tried before proper independent courts. • Prosecutions are important because they can complement and corroborate the findings of truth and reconciliation commissions [one participant]. iv. Institutional reform • Institutional reform not only is an important component of transitional justice and a prerequisite for a proper national healing process, it functions as a means for the advancement of other transitional justice mechanisms. For example, there can be no prosecutions until there is a reshuffle at the Attorney-General’s office [one participant]. • The security sector should not be involved in political affairs. In most cases, victims have to resort to self-help rather than waste their time reporting political matters to the police station. One woman gave testimony on how her son was abducted by soldiers in June 2008 and that she was turned away by the local police. v. Other • It is not safe to discuss political matters in Shurugwi. People are still being intimidated [one participant]. 7. OBSERVATIONS • The meeting appeared to be composed mainly of members of ZANU(PF), in other words a significant number of participants either self-identified as members of ZANU(PF) or supported views generally attributed to this political party. 120 Taking Transitional Justice to the People – Outreach Report