Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
LOCAL peace committees are promoting the establishment of police bases within communities as part of their ongoing peace-building efforts.
The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) has successfully formed 46 local peace committees across Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Midlands Provinces. Notably, the Gwanda Local Peace Committee spearheaded the establishment of a police base in the Spitzkop area of Ward 5, Gwanda Urban, last year.
ZCA executive director, Reverend Useni Sibanda said this initiative will be replicated by peace committees in other districts. He said peace committees do not only focus on creating dialogue but also proffering long-term solutions to address conflicts
“Local peace committees were designed to deal with local conflict issues and most of these local conflict issues will need collective effort between churches, police among other stakeholders for the root cause of the problem to be addressed. For example we have had the Gwanda Local Peace Committee work with the police to address conflicts in mining areas, which had escalated.
“In their interventions, the peace committees don’t only focus on dialogue but bringing long-term solutions to address conflict. It was important for a police base to be established in Spitzkop as it has brought the much needed relief. It’s important for more police bases to be built in local communities as they help in maintaining order and ensure a faster reaction. We look forward to construction of more police bases through initiatives from our peace committees, working with police and other stakeholders,” he said.
Online Reporter