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The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is a constitutional body charged with promoting peace and reconciliation in the country. It is also one of the institutions responsible for promoting peaceful elections. The Sunday Mail’s Political Editor KUDA BWITITI (KB) spoke to NPRC spokesperson Commissioner OBERT GUTU (OG) about the commission’s work ahead of the August 23 harmonised elections.
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KB: The NPRC is constitutionally mandated to promote peace during the election period. Please, outline the commission’s mandate ahead of this year’s elections.
OG: The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is a mechanism for the promotion of peace, unity and reconciliation in Zimbabwe.
Our focus is on creating an environment conducive to the holding of peaceful elections.
To this effect, the NPRC’s theme for the year is targeted at conflict prevention, in line with provisions set out under Section 252 (h) of the Constitution, which enjoins us to do anything incidental for the promotion of peace and the prevention of conflicts.
The commission’s Elections Conflict Prevention Strategy highlights its commitment to run conflict-prevention programmes before, during and after the elections to ensure that our country remains peaceful throughout the process.
KB: What work have you done so far to fulfil that mandate?
OG: The commission has undertaken several programmes to facilitate the creation of an atmosphere of understanding of the electoral process, possible conflict triggers and how to prevent them.
The programmes include capacity building on electoral gender-based violence and facilitating engagement of our infrastructure for peace with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and political parties.
The commission has also held preventative dialogue engagements, together with the ZRP, in Matabeleland South to explore options for fostering community unity and harmony.
Around the country, the NPRC has engaged extensively with traditional and community leaders, as well as Government officials, at provincial and district levels, where the call to support the commission by cascading the message of peace, unity, tolerance and non-violence continues to be warmly embraced.
The commission has also conducted several publicity programmes through radio; television; and print, digital and social media platforms; as well as production of peace songs and branding of peace buses; all focused on preventing conflicts towards the elections.
KB: There have been few incidents of political violence so far. Are you satisfied with the current state of affairs?
OG: We are happy that, to date, Zimbabweans have heeded the message to prevent violence.
We are, therefore, satisfied that the nation has remained largely peaceful.
KB: What more needs to be done to maintain peace and tolerance before, during and after the polls?
OG: We continue to call upon those on the campaign trail to urge their supporters and the nation, in general, to desist from practices, actions or pronouncements that may trigger conflict and violence.
KB: How are you working with political parties and their supporters to maintain peace and non-violent conduct?
OG: Section 252 (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the commission to develop procedures and institutions for the promotion of dialogue among political parties and other groups.
We remain open to working with all stakeholders, political institutions included, to consummate programmes that unite our people. The National Development Strategy 1 is quite instructive on this responsibility for the commission to promote social cohesion through advancing inclusive dialogue among our people.
KB: Your commission is mandated with setting up provincial peace committees. Has the NPRC established these committees?
OG: Provincial peace committees are among our vehicles for promoting peace and institutionalising a culture of dialogue and consensus.
Their membership draws from political parties, the media, war veterans, youths, women’s groups, selected Government departments, persons with disabilities, ZRP, churches and other religious groups, and civic society organisations, among other stakeholders.
The fact that these structures have been in existence for five years now speaks to their efficacy as an avenue for resolving local conflicts and guiding the commission on any threats to peace in provinces and districts.
Whilst the commission would have wished for more programmes to be initiated by these vehicles, we remain humbled by their commitment to united, peaceful and violence-free provinces.
KB: We understand that the NPRC is obliged to bring together leaders of different political parties to release a joint peace statement. Have you managed to achieve this?
OG: This initiative remains up to the political parties to invite the commission should they be committed to proceed with it.
KB: Has the commission received any reports or complaints of political violence during the current campaign period?
OG: We have a fully functional complaints handling and investigations mechanism, which documents and follows up on complaints received as long as they fall within our mandate and comply with the legislative requirements for us to initiate investigative procedures.
KB: Has the commission received adequate funding from Treasury to undertake its activities?
OG: We are grateful to Treasury for supporting the commission financially.
The issue around adequacy of the funding is relative, but Government is complying with provisions set out under Section 322 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
KB: Your commission has been accused by some political stakeholders of not doing enough to stem political violence. What is your response?
OG: The commission is aware of this complaint from some sections.
Unfortunately, we have stakeholders who raise these concerns when they have never approached the commission to make their complaints known. Others go forum shopping, raising a similar complaint with different agencies, hoping all of them will “pounce” on the alleged adversely mentioned person.
In terms of Section 8 (3) of the NPRC Act, “The commission shall not investigate a complaint where the action or omission complained of is the subject matter of civil or criminal proceedings before any competent jurisdiction”.
For this reason, some may think that we are not doing anything, when, in fact, this provision sets limitations on cases we can deal with.
KB: Kindly add any message you consider important ahead of the elections.
OG: The NPRC’s rallying message for the upcoming plebiscite is “Peaceful Campaigns; Peaceful Elections; Peaceful Zimbabwe”.
A peaceful election benefits everyone and we, therefore, reiterate our call for unity, peace, love and tolerance before, during and after the elections.
Peace begins with me, peace begins with you and peace begins with all of us.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter