opportunity can wither, and even more so considering that the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is only established for 10 years. In view of the above narratives, the (selective) reconciliation efforts that Zimbabwe has experienced, in many ways, failed to meaningfully facilitate transitional justice that would draw a line between the country’s violent past and a more peaceful future. The past efforts failed to bring psychological closure to the traumas of the past, which has resulted in continuous calls for a proper reconciliation process. Because the government is primarily, and perpetually, leading the violations and also acting as the arbiter of these abuses a genuine national healing, peace and reconciliation process has been stifled. Since independence, the lack of distinction between ZANU PF and the government (state-party conflation) and systematic executive interference have compromised the rule of law thereby exacerbating the vulnerability of citizens. 1.2 Research Context Zimbabwe has a volatile socio-economic and political environment characterized by polarization, political discord, economic decline and rising costs of living, authoritarianism and institutional decay. These factors pose challenges to peace and reconciliation processes in the country by shifting people’s interests and priorities, multiplying layers of victims and perpetrators, blurring the distinction between a perpetrator and a victim and acting as the state’s justification for ignoring past injustices. The 2013 Constitution established five Independent Commissions Supporting Democracy (ICSD) to facilitate democracy. The Constitution also provides a Bill of Rights that advances the protection and promotion of human rights, including the right to live in a peaceful environment. However, it is important to note that the 2013 Constitution was adopted at a time when Zimbabwe had a democratic representation in parliament. The Global Political Agreement regulated the signatories against excessive powers among themselves which effected traction towards constitutionalism.19 The emergence of ZANU PF as the outright winner of the 2013 elections, the expulsion of MDC-T members of parliament and the withdrawal of major political parties from participating in the subsequent by-elections made the country regress to a pseudo multi-party state.20 Since then, the government never sincerely committed itself to align laws with the new constitution, nor to effectively operationalize ICSD and allow non-state actors to pursue peace building initiatives. National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations. (2013). Zimbabwe’s Global Political Agreement Implementation: 4 Years on at Best Faltering…. At Worst Failing … Retrieved from: http://archive.kubatana.net/docs/ cact/zcsos_zim_gpa_4yrs_on_120917.pdf 20 The MDC-T withdrew 21 of its MPs from Parliament following a split when they crossed the floor into joining the splinter group led by Tendai Biti. See: The Herald (2015) Parliament Expels MDC-T MPs. Retrieved from: http://www. herald.co.zw/parliament-expels-21-mdc-t-mps/. 19 10 RECONCILIATION PROCESSES IN ZIMBABWE