MUTASA CENTRAL 1. CONSTITUENCY: MUTASA CENTRAL 2. PROVINCE: MANICALAND 3. VENUE: CHADZINGWA BUSINESS CENTRE 4. DATE: 03 SEPTEMBER 2009 5. PARTICIPANTS: No.: 44 Sex: 55% female Age: 21–76, average 42 years From: local business leaders, traditional leaders, women, political activists, government employees and youths 6. RECOMMENDATIONS i. Truth recovery • The truth must be revealed first in order for proper healing to take place and to build lasting peace [youth, women and political activists]. • It would be difficult for one to forgive someone he/she does not know. Some committed these offences in groups at night and no one knows them. If their identities are revealed, then one may move on and decide if they can forgive the person [female participant, who identified herself as a victim of political violence]. • The ‘commanders of violence’ still operating in the villages must be brought out and be made to say out in the open the things which they did [political activists]. ii. Prosecutions/Accountability • There must be ‘justice’ for all those who participated in criminal activities. Perpetrators of political violence have all along been acting as if they are above the law [youth and political activists]. • There is no way of moving forward without rule of law. A participant pointed out the spot where he said someone’s livestock was burnt by people who they knew. “These people have support of powerful politicians. As far as these people were untouchables [above the law]” [male participant]. • All those who directed violence must be tried for their offences [youths]. • The youths who were used to perpetrate political violence must receive psycho-social support [youths]. • All rapists must face justice before people begin to talk about reconciliation. iii. Reparations • Everyone who was injured must be compensated and those who were killed, their families must be looked after. Those who have lost their property must have it returned. If it cannot be traced, it must be replaced [youth and traditional leaders]. • All processes must be all-inclusive and the youths must have a major role [youth]. • Benefits for the affected must be properly guarded so that they reach the intended beneficiaries. In this country no one really knew who was a youth and who was not. The old people always force themselves into youth programmes [elderly male participant]. 40 Taking Transitional Justice to the People – Outreach Report