adminSharon Chikowore Mashonaland West Bureau
Zimbabweans have been urged to participate in national peace building processes through the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) regardless of their political affiliation.
The NPRC seeks to bring the nation together through peace and reconciliation for a reconciled, healed and cohesive nation.
The NPRC was established through the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013.
Speaking during an outreach programme held in Chinhoyi on Thursday last week, NPRC Commissioner responsible for Mashonaland West Mrs Choice Ndoro said there was need to deal with challenges from the past to leave a legacy for the coming generation.
“All conflicts have a history and they are continuing, so is the violence. Goal number one is dealing with the past because that’s where the conflicts and disputes started.
“Gukurahundi is a priority number one. Commissioners in Matabeleland are working very hard to address issues of Gukurahundi,” she said.
The provincial peace committee for Mashonaland West is set to be launched in Chinhoyi next month.
“There will be a truth-telling programme including all the districts in the province. Our goal is to make sure the truth about our past is told,” she said.
Commissioner Reverend Charles Masunungure said members of the NPRC were moving around the province to introduce the commission, its mandate and function.
“Our main objective is to disseminate the methodology or approach of NPRC in dealing with the Zimbabwean conflict. To unite Zimbabweans for sustainable peace by developing mechanisms to peacefully resolve violent conflicts of the past and institutionalise approaches for preventing their recurrence in the present and future,” he said.
The NPRC, Rev Masunungure said, looks into conflicts and disputes which happen among communities, individuals and Zimbabwe to free coming generations from similar problems. “Our mandate is to conciliate and mediate disputes among communities, organisations, groups and individuals and recommends legislation to ensure that assistance, including documentation, is rendered to persons affected by conflicts, pandemics or other circumstances,” he said.
During the question and answer session, participants urged Government to ditch names identifying provinces in Zimbabwe.
Participants agreed that names such as Mashonaland, Manicaland, and Matabeleland also contribute to some of the conflicts in the country.
The NPRC’s outreach programme is going on for 21 days and started on April 27 while seeking to promote peace, justice, national unity, healing, reconciliation and dignity among the people of Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter