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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
VARIOUS stakeholders from Gwanda formed the Gwanda Local Peace Committee in 2018 (GLPC) to help fight violence which was rampant at Vhovha Mine where there was much bloodshed as a result of wrangles over undesignated mine shafts.
The peace committee working with the police implemented various strategies which helped to curtail the violence. The peace ambassadors did not stop there as they went on to tackle other conflict issues which threatened peace in the mining town.
After five years of being in existence, the GLPC is recognised as one of the key peace structures in Gwanda as it has helped to address conflict issues that persisted for years.
The GLPC is a church-led initiative, which was formed under the guidance of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA).
The major function of the committee is to promote peace and non-violence in the Gwanda community through non-violent interventions and community-centered approaches.
During the Covid-19 period the GLPC mobilised resources to assist vulnerable people that were affected during the lockdown under the “Feed Gwanda Project”.
The committee engaged the business community, church leaders, local authorities, farmers, community leaders, civic society organisations, faith-based organisations and service providers among other stakeholders and mobilised grocery items and clothing for the vulnerable.
GLPC chairperson, Mr Davis Mwera said the target of the committee is to see a violence-free Gwanda. He said while conflicts will always be there, people have to use non-violent mechanisms to resolve them.
“The Gwanda Local Peace Committee was formed in 2018. It was established as a result of violence which was recorded at Vhovha Mine. We intervened at Vhovha Mine and even established a peace committee there to work hand in hand with the police,” said Mr Mwera.
“We then moved around Gwanda Town and raised awareness of our existence. We intervened in Spitzkop North area where residents complained of high crime. People were being robbed, assaulted, raped and attacked almost on a daily basis by rowdy gangs.”
Mr Mwera said the residents were also complaining of poor lighting in the area. He said the peace committee engaged the Gwanda Municipality and lighting was addressed
He said the peace committee also engaged the municipality and requested for land to build a police base in Spitzkop North.
The police base which was opened last week was built as a result of corroborated effort by the community, business community and police.
Mr Mwera said the peace committee in Ward 5 has helped to reduce crime in the area.
“We first started by facilitating the establishment of a temporary base in Ward 5. Initially, police officers were operating from a tent and then they moved to a temporary structure and now a police base has been established,” he said.
“The presence of this police base will go a long way in fighting crime, reducing cases of violence. The police base is located at Red Cross Business Centre which is where a lot of criminal activities were taking place.”
Mr Mwera said the GLPC also intervened in Jahunda’s old location area in Ward 4 where residents were disgruntled as some houses did not have toilets and water. He said they engaged the local authority over the matter. Residents were greenlighted to buy their own taps with the municipality engineers doing the fitting.
GLPC pastoral peace ambassador Pastor Phathisiwe Dube said while the peace committee was established with the aim of intervening in Vhovha Mine it has gone beyond that.
“The peace committees that we have formed at ward level are doing a lot of dealing with day-to-day conflicts at ward level. Some of the tensions are between neighbours, and in our work we also focus on influencing the approach which residents have when they are dealing with service providers,” he said.
“Instead of approaching service providers with an attitude and spirit of fighting, there is a need for residents to have a civil approach. It’s also important for service providers to listen to their clients and not dismiss their grievances.”
Ms Samantha Manyeka who is a member of the GLPC said members of the peace committee received training through the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance. She said they also undergo regular training sessions.
Ms Manyeka said the training has helped to equip the peace committee members as they do their work around the community.
“When the call for people to join the peace committee was announced I decided to join although I had little experience in conflict resolution. I just knew the basics which could help me maybe to resolve conflicts among friends,” she said.
“The knowledge I have gained has empowered me to be able to deal with conflicts at a community level. I might be young, but I can now engage even the elderly people within the community and address a problem.” – @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter