Shamva south 1. Constituency: Shamva South 2. Province: Mashonaland Central 3. Venue: Save The Children Hall 4. Date: 12 October 2009 5. Participants: No.: 40 Sex: 52% female Age: 21–54, average 33 years From: church leaders, village leaders, youths, women, government employees and political activists 6. Recommendations i. Reconciliation • A comprehensive reconciliation process must involve all members of society [traditional leaders, youths]. • Traditional leaders must lead the process of healing and promotion of a culture of tolerance [participants] • The government must empower traditional leaders in the area of reconciliation [participants]. • Women and youths must be involved in the healing process because they are usually adversely affected by any violent political process [women and youths] • The Inclusive Government must openly visit areas affected by political violence, condemn it and apologize for violence committed [participants]. ii. Restitution • “Reconstruct what was destroyed” and “heal what was wounded”. Restoration of the displaced and provision of humanitarian support are necessary [traditional leaders]. • The perpetrators of violence must pay for their actions [youths]. • The youths must be rehabilitated. The youths went further to describe the state of ‘youth’ in Zimbabwe that required rehabilitation and restoration. They made this diagram: Vigour Exp endab le For Nothing Adu lts and Politicians Bene fit Ener getic • The diagram describes the unfortunate cycle in which the youths find themselves. In the end, they become “a bunch of destitutes and sex slaves” at both family level and political level. They end up settling for anything, hence they became vulnerable to abusive politicians. This condition of the youths needs rehabilitation and the government must ensure that the youths regain their dignity. Part of this would come through “practicable empowerment policies”, “enforceable rights” and “inclusion of youth in all levels of leadership in government and the private sector”. 58 Taking Transitional Justice to the People – Outreach Report