adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
GWERU residents yesterday said the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Bill should empower commissioners to run its affairs independent of any Minister.
The residents said this during a public hearing held jointly by the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Senate Thematic Committee on Human Rights, Peace and Security.
Harare West MP Jessie Majome, who chairs the Justice Committee, told members of the public that the Bill gives Ministers powers to issue a certificate to stop investigations into any matters deemed not to be in the public interest.
In response, members of the public said the commission should report to parliament not to any Minister.
“The Bill should be clear that the commission should be transparent and should report to Parliament directly. We’ve a problem when a whole minister is given powers to issue a certificate to stop investigations. It must be noted that it’s the political parties which start these human rights violations and the minister is from a certain political party, so that will hinder transparency in the whole process,” said Kaitano Lunga.
Others said they were against the idea of publishing any reported matter in the press.
They said that would give perpetrators a chance to destroy evidence or run away.
Rebecca Butau said: “There’s no provision on what will be done to the victims of political violence. There should be room for their protection and the State providing such services.”
Mugeza Hove said there was a need to include the “truth” clause in the Bill to force people to confess their sins and room for the affected to be compensated.
The government gazetted the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill last December to give effect to Sections 251, 252, and 253 of the Constitution.
President Robert Mugabe has since appointed commissioners to run the peace and reconciliation commission chaired by former Speaker of Parliament, Cyril Ndebele.
Other members of the commission are Lilian Chigwedere, Patience Chiradza, Choice Ndoro, Charles Masunungure, Geoffrey Chada, Leslie Ncube and Godfrey Chekenyere.
Online Reporter