10. REFLECTIONS The conceptualisation of national peace, healing and reconciliation in this study is derived from the concepts that are part of the field of transitional justice. Transitional justice (TJ) refers to “the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempt to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation.”101 This definition agrees with Al-Makassary who defines TJ as representing “a framework of mechanisms that works to restore the rule of law and justice through both judicial and non-judicial responses.”102 Therefore, in the context of Zimbabwe, peace, healing and reconciliation process should resonate with the Zimbabwean history, conflict episodes, public grievances and communities’ needs. The above observations show that there is need for a community level driven reconciliation process which ensures that there is inclusivity in all the processes. As such, it is necessary to question the national preparedness in implementing the demands that the communities feel the need to be reconciled reconciliation. However, it is also necessary to consider practicalities of diverse issues raised by the research respondents as reflecting some of the general Zimbabwean populace views. 10.1. National Preparedness for Peace and Reconciliation In order for the peace and reconciliation process in Zimbabwe to succeed, the NPRC, other responsible government departments, citizens, political parties and non-state actors interested in transitional justice should be fully prepared. Necessary facets of preparedness include national popular readiness, legal and institutional readiness. Popular readiness refers the citizens’ willingness to participate in the peace and reconciliation process while legal readiness refers to the development of laws and regulations that permits peace and reconciliation interventions. Institutional readiness refers to the establishment of necessary institutions that support national peace and reconciliation across the country. The study found that the citizens and a large number of civic society organisations are ready to embrace reconciliation processes. However, there is need for the government to put in place necessary legislative and policy frameworks to legitimize the population’s full participation and engagement in the reconciliation processes. Moreover, political will is a crucial asset that largely determines the extent to which the NPRC will succeed. Below are discussions about the country’s readiness to facilitate a credible and successful reconciliation process. i) Legal readiness The Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment number 20) adopted in 2013 provides a legal basis for the establishment of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as one of five Independent Commissions Supporting Democracy (Chapter 12, Section 232). Section 251-253 of the Constitution establishes the mandate, functions and administration of the NPRC work. The NPRC Commissioners were appointed in 2015 and sworn in on the 24th of February 2016. The NPRC Act, an enabling Legislation United Nations “The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies” (S/2004/616), para8 Al-Makassary, R. (2013). Revisiting the Conceptual Framework of Transitional Justice: Some Critical Notes. Kathmandu School. Law. Review, 2, 172. 101 102 60 RECONCILIATION PROCESSES IN ZIMBABWE