Shamva North 1. Constituency: Shamva North 2. Province: Mashonaland Central 3. Venue: Madziva Business Centre 4. Date: 12 October 2009 5. Participants: No.: 25 Sex: 40% female Age: 25–69, average 42 years From: church leaders, youths, village leaders, women, political activists and farmers 6. Recommendations i. Prevalence of political violence • It was a challenge to start national healing in an atmosphere of violence and intimidation. • The perpetrators who were not arrested or made to account for their acts of violence continue to intimidate people with impunity. • The constitution-making process is threatened by political violence. • Addressing the security concerns is important in addressing the problems of intimidation and violence [political activists]. ii. Accountability • The culture of impunity must end and the perpetrators of violence must be brought to book [women, political activists]. • Accountability is achievable when the rule of law is restored and the judiciary allowed to work effectively without undue influence. iii. Restitution • Compensation must be made to the victims of human rights violations through rebuilding destroyed property and paying for enforced participation in political violence and abuse [women]. iv. Restoration of freedoms • Restoration of the freedom to organize political meetings and freedom of expression must be restored so that healing can take place [political activists]. • The youths and church leadership want to enjoy the freedom to belong to a political party of choice and freedom of worship to be guaranteed. v. Institutional reforms • The judiciary, security sector, the public media and the electoral system need reform. • An independent human rights commission is required and there is a need to train judges, magistrates and lawyers so that they work professionally for the cause of justice. • The police, army, central intelligence organization and the youth militia were accused of committing human rights violations. 56 Taking Transitional Justice to the People – Outreach Report