Human Rights Archive Zimbabwe

This brief constitutes a summary of the issues presented to the NPRC, the responses given by the NPRC and an update of its activities given by the NPRC.

In this edition of the NPRC Watch, we are expanding the scope of the discussion to look at not only the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) but all relevant independent commissions that are established to support democracy and entrench human rights through Chapter 12 of the Constitution. We look at the role of these commissions in the times of crisis when violations of human rights are on the increase. It is for times like these that such commissions were established.

The analysis brings out the improvements and limitations of the 2017 NPRC Bill as compared to the old Bill and previous revised draft.

The NTJWG convened a semi annual regional process monitoring meeting for the Harare region on the 1stof October 2019. This was done in a bid to engage with its stakeholders on opportunities and challenges they are having in engaging the NPRC as well as obtaining and disseminating information to the working group.

The NTJWG convened a community dialogue to build the capacity of communities on the work of the NPRC. This prepared communities at ward level to be active participants and be involved in the work of the NPRC, and to contribute through the NTJWG, to influence the NPRC’s interventions ensuring that they are victim-centred.

The NTJWG convened a community dialogue to build the capacity of communities on the work of the NPRC.This prepared communities at ward level to be active participants and be involved in the work of the NPRC, and to contribute through the NTJWG, to influence the NPRC’s interventions ensuring that they are victim-centred.

The focus of this particular paper is to look at the efficacy of traditional mechanisms in transitional justice in Zimbabwe. The role of indigenous knowledge systems and use of local capacities can no longer be underestimated in development. Traditional mechanisms are often viewed with a lot of suspicion possibly because they do not fit in western perceptions and notions of justice.

A nationwide baseline study to inform diverse peace and reconciliation initiatives in Zimbabwe. A baseline study is a descriptive cross-sectional study undertaken to establish the obtaining status of a particular situation before interventions. Baseline studies are essential for project design, benchmarks establishment, monitoring and evaluation.

The paper does not seek to put finality on the matter of traditional mechanisms of transitional justice but rather seeks to reignite discussions on the efficacy of traditional mechanisms and offer recommendations on how they can be strengthened in light of their shortcomings.

This report captures the proceedings of the Stakeholders Conference on Transitional Justice Principles in Zimbabwe which was convened by the National Transitional Justice Working Group from 23 to 24 July 2015 in Nyanga. The conference discussed and produced the Guiding Principles for Transitional Justice Policy in Practice for Zimbabwe.

The report Further Explains the Guiding Principles of Transitional Justice in Zimbabwe Which are, Promotion of Truth, Justice and accountability, Memorialisation, Institutional reform, Gender and Reparations.

This update serves to provide a brief update for Stakeholders on the transitional justice developments in the country as well as activities of the NTJWG in the first quarter of 2018.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is one of 5 independent commissions established by the Constitution of Zimbabwe to entrench a culture of human rights and democracy. Section 251 of the Constitution established the NPRC.