An Independent Commission is the Answer: Youths

Young people have called on the Inclusive Government to look into transforming the organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI), into an independent Truth, Justice and Reconciliation commission with quasi Judicial powers as this will enable it to fulfil its mandate which is enunciated in article VII of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

Young people, speaking during a District peace workshop in Gwanda said that ONHRI in its current state is nothing more than a tool to be used by political parties in the inclusive government to gain political mileage. It has failed to deliver tangible results to communities that have suffered from different phases of both state sponsored and politically motivated violence.

“The Organ should be made an independent body as it has failed to live to its mandate. The principals of the GPA are both victims and perpetrators of past human rights injustices hence the failure to hold people accountable for their actions,” said Benson Gama a participant during the Workshop.

Arguing in support of the establishment of an Independent body, Simangaliso Mthethwa, a participant at the workshop said that an Independent commission would allow for perpetrators to be taken to court and for justice to take its course.  

Mthethwa said, “Having an Independent body will allow for perpetrators to be taken to court and for justice to take its course.” Another participant who did not identify himself said “The Commission should be structured in such a way that there are no representatives of political parties in it as this would compromise its impartiality and outcomes,” said Terence Mpala

The NYDT Senior Programmes officer who was facilitating during the same placed Security Sector reforms as a necessary pre-requisite for a successful national healing process in Zimbabwe. “With adequate security sector reforms, which will guarantee protection to victims and witnesses of human rights violations, Zimbabwe will be able to heal the past…”  said Bhekumusa Moyo.

The GPA has given the Inclusive Government the mandate to lead the process of healing past wounds that were inflicted on Zimbabweans during different phases of state sponsored and politically motivated violence. Many Zimbabweans hoped that this would be done before the nation prepares for any fresh election. Such hopes are proving to have been misplaced since most political parties have started preparing for elections. However, with the threat of elections this year, Cases of politically motivated violence are already being recorded in some parts of the country.  

Meanwhile the presence of police officers and representatives from the president’s office negatively affected the full participation of young people during the workshop. Some Young people interviewed after the workshop said that they failed to freely express themselves because of the presence of uniformed police officers and known members of the Central intelligence organisation. The Zimbabwe republic police continue to use draconian laws such as the public order and Security Act to disrupt or monitor the activities of Civil Society Organisations.