Not a single person has been convicted of the 2008 election violence. Victims and perpetrators alike have remained largely in their shells and even Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have found it difficult to carry out national healing and reconciliation meetings without Government support.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), which has been carrying out a grass root reconciliation programme, says that even though people are willing to speak out the government has not opened up the space to create a sense of security.
People need protection from the government in order to gain confidence. People want to have their properties back but the
government does not offer that, said Ndabaezinhle Nkunsane who is the Co-ordinator of CCPJ.
Formed in 2009 the Organ of National Healing has remained a passive observer making the work of organisations that are preparing the ground for a nationwide national healing programme a difficult task.
It becomes difficult for organisations like us to go ahead with the national healing meetings, when there is no clarity from the Government.
We are insecure as to whether we will get support from the government. The issue of security makes us hesitant. Without proper government support it becomes difficult for NGOs to measure the extent which people can go in reconciling.
People are willing to participate. Its a matter of how they interpret are the reconciliation programme. People are willing to forgive the perpetrators and its clear that people are willing to embrace national healing but government has to create the environment.
Efforts to undertake grassroots national healing programme have been scuttled by the absence of an enabling law, which has left the organ with a vague mandate.
When we were appointed we thought that the three principals had an idea of what they wanted us to do. They didnt. They were relying on us to advise them, said Sekesai Holland one of the elders heading the Organ of National Healing and Reconciliation.
While some people have taken a bold step in reclaiming their properties the police have arrested them. Vice President John Nkomo last week appealed to the police to show zero tolerance to violence.
The Organ calls on protection agencies especially the police, to show zero tolerance to all forms of violence.
Zimbabwe Human Rights says that the youths are the people who have been used to perpetrate violence but have in outreach meetings with NGOs shown that there are willing to embrace national healing and reconciliation. We call upon the all the young people in Zimbabwe to shun violence.
We further call upon the Government of National Unity to put in place mechanisms to ensure protection against further bloodshed in future elections or referenda, said the NGO Forum in a statement While the Government is dragging its feet NGOs have taken the lead and are already meeting both the victims and perpetrators and the victims in order to help ease tensions.
What we are doing is a preparatory process for the organ of national healing. People are ready to meet the organ of National Healing. If we wait for the government to start people may not participate and may be overtaken by the events, said Nkunsane.
Post published in: News