CSO conduct 18 dialogues to prevent violence in society

Church and Civil Society Forum (CCSF) and its partners have conducted 18 dialogues across the county in an initiative to strengthen local mechanisms for violence prevention at the community level.

The dialogues provide community leaders with a safe and credible platform where key developmental gaps that are sources of community conflicts are identified, interrogated and solutions proffered.

The CCSF and member institutions have mainstreamed civic education relating to the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) in its programming to enhance community awareness of the need to operationalise of this independent commission given that already 2 years of its 10 year constitutional mandate have been lost.

The organisation said as the community dialogues progressed, it was realized that there is need for capacity building training for local leadership in Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution and Transformation (CPMRT).

"The goal of CPMRT training is to enhance capacities for the local leadership in Conflict Preventing, Management, Resolution and Transformation so that they constructively management conflicts in discharging their mandates," said the organisation.

"CCSF targets traditional leaders, councilors, church leaders, local police, because they have the mandate to take a leading role in resolve local conflicts."

CCSF working with its partner Bulawayo Agenda convened a CPRMT training targeting Bulilima and Mangwe district community leaders on the 5th of August 2015 in Plumtree town. This is part of the capacity building component of the CCSF at community level.

"Thus far this year alone CPMRT trainings have been held in Mberengwa,  Chikomba, Muzaraban, Buhera, Nyanga, Plumtree, Shamva, Guruve, Binga and Chivi," said the organisation.