Tree of Life is a victim empowerment project meant to heal the wounds of victims of political violence, particularly after Zimbabwe’s disputed 2008 elections that saw Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) unleash a reign of terror against opposition MDC supporters.
About 200 MDC supporters are said to have been killed during the violence, while many more were displaced or injured.
The healing programme was stopped following a conflict of interest between clients and management of the Southern African Centre for Survivors of Torture, much to the disadvantage of the victims who found themselves without a platform to unload their emotional burdens.
Tree of Life South Africa Coordinator, George Phiri, said the resuscitation would go a long way in bringing victims forward to share their experiences on a neutral platform so that the healing process can begin.
"The aim is to bring together the victims and try to build a new spirit that restores their dignity as well as try to get feedback on the experiences they went through after the closure of SASCT,” said Phiri.
"We aim to do away with scientific counselling as it does not fit into African culture – where family or group counselling is preferable."
He said as a way forward they would be holding workshops to document the experiences of refugees, dating from the 1980s to the present so that all atrocities committed in post-independent Zimbabwe can be documented for future generations.
Phiri said they planned joining South Africa on 24 September to commemorate Heritage Day.
Post published in: Politics