adminTendai Gukutikwa
MUTARE residents have expressed mixed feelings at the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill and said some of its provisions need to be revisited.
The hearing, which was held at Mutare Hall on Wednesday, was chaired Senator Damien Mumvuri.
The functions of the commission are to make investigations of any dispute or conflict, to make appropriate recommendations for peace building strategies and conflict prevention, management and resolution, to conduct research on various aspects and to perform any other function that the commission may be required or permitted to perform.
In airing their sentiments, nearly everyone showed their displeasure in the clause that stated that the chief executive officer would be appointed by the commission in consultation with the minister.
Mr Simon Makuvire said the appointing of the CEO by the minister was a wrong move as it gave power to the minister to choose who ever he or she likes.
He said the Bill gave too much power to the ministry forgetting that people were the ones who were being affected and had to choose their own leaders.
“I beg to differ on the clause that states that the minister has to appoint the chief executive officer of the Commission. This person has to be appointed by the people and be non-partisan. Having him/her appointed by the minister means that he will be partisan since a minister went into power through politics and belongs to a certain political party.
“It is common knowledge that you cannot bite the hand that feeds you, it will not be an exception in this matter. The ceo will definitely abide by the rules of his employer which is the minister. We as the people do not want that. We recommend that there be corrections on this Bill so that no-one has power over this National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation Commission,” said Mr Makuvire.
Responding to the views of the people, Mutare Central legislator, Mr Innocent Gonese, said it had to be noted that it was still a Bill that needed the people’s input for it to be debated and passed in Parliament.
He said the commission was expected to be independent and non-partisan.
Close to three quarters of those that attended, however, complained on the unavailability of copies of the Bill for individuals stating that they had nothing to discuss since they knew nothing on what was contained in the Bill.
“It is not fair that you call us to this meeting just days before the meeting. You should have informed us on the meeting weeks or if possible months before. We should also have been furnished with copies of this Bill before this meeting, but nothing of that sort has happened, giving us doubts on whether our views will surely be aired in Parliament,” said Headman Mundenda.
This prompted Mr Gonese to summarise the 22 paged Bill to the audience during the course of the hearing.
Online Reporter