Chronicle Editor
Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has said it will organise forums for women only as part of the national healing process as they were the most affected group during the different conflicts that occurred in the country.
Addressing participants during a multi-sectoral stakeholder and engagement meeting in Bulawayo yesterday, NPRC Commissioner Netty Musanhu said some women might not be able to open up and tell their stories in public. “Women have been and continue to be the most affected group by conflicts. One of the key actions for 2019 is having women’s dialogues and women only spaces and we’re going to be piloting those in Matabeleland, Midlands, Manicaland and Harare,” said Comm Musanhu.
“Most women can’t stand up in public and talk about sexual violence but we know that women have been raped during conflicts such as Gukurahundi and affected in many other ways. Through the Victim Support, Gender and Diversity, we’ll ensure that women engage on their own and openly share their experiences.”
She said after the women’s engagements which are one of the 2019 priorities, the NPRC will then come up with guidelines on how it can effectively address women’s concerns.
Comm Musanhu explained to stakeholders the NPRC’s mandate, the strategic priorities for 2019 and the commission’s five-year strategic plan, saying the setting up of peace committees was also critical.
“The commission went round the country and did consultations and we came up with three conflict epochs, the pre-independence, the 1982-1983 Gukurahundi period and the 2000 era going foward.
“Out of these three eras, we’ve created vehicles to enable the commission to heal our past, resolve current conflicts and facilitate recommendations for policies and legislative changes,” said Comm Musanhu.
She said the NPRC came up with external thematic committees which include healing and reconciliation, conflict prevention and non-recurrence, research and knowledge management and the victim support, gender and diversity to help the commission to engage victims.
“The commission continues to be guided by the victims, stakeholders and communities. In our five-year-strategic plan, we’ll work through the thematic committees in all the provinces,” said Comm Musanhu. – @pamelashumba1
Online Reporter