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NPRC should address victims of Murambatsvina
29 Mar 2016 at 06:28hrs | Views
Participants at a Heal Zimbabwe public awareness campaign on the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) bill in Highfield, Harare at Sebiz hall demanded that the bill should address concerns of the victims of the operation Murambatsvina which left many residents in the cities displaced and without accommodation.
The trust said a total of 141 participants attended the meeting.
"The public meeting sought to raise awareness on constitutionally provided functions of National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and to gather community views on the recently gazetted National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill," said the trust.
"The panel was composed of officials from Heal Zimbabwe, Edgar Gweshe from Crisis in Coalition in Zimbabwe and Shastry Njeru, from Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. In his opening remarks, Cleto Manjova from Heal Zimbabwe highlighted the purpose of the meeting which was to educate people on the contents of the NPRC bill so that they meaningfully participate in the public hearings on the bill."
Edgar Gweshe made a presentation on the constitutional functions of the NPRC which include ensuring post conflict justice, healing and reconciliation. Advocate Njeru then took participants through the history of violence in Zimbabwe and reconciliation attempts.
He highlighted that at independence, President Mugabe preached the message of peace but that was short-lived as there were disturbances in Matebeleland that saw a spate of violence spreading across the area.
"This defeated the call on peace and forgiveness he had enunciated at independence. These disturbances were halted when the Unity Accord was signed between ZANU PF and PF ZAPU in 1987," said the trust.
"Participants highlighted that the NPRC should also look into violations such as the 2005 Murambatsvina, which left many homeless after the government destroyed their houses.".
"The NPRC should also consider victims of government's brutality which left many homeless such as Murambatsvina", said one participant.
Participants also bemoaned the need for compensation for those who had their houses demolished. One participant highlighted that Commission should look into possible compensation for victims who had their houses demolished.
"...The NPRC should look at ways of compensating those who had their houses demolished"..., said one participant.
Some of the views from the public gathered during the meeting are,the NPRC should receive complaints from Murambatsvina victims,the NPRC should launch an investigation into the Murambatsvina violations.
The NPRC should look into possible compensation for Murambatsvina victims, the NPRC bill rests a lot of powers into the hands of the Minister, hence the Commission might be compromised in the discharge of its duties.
The Commission must also utilize the findings of past commissions such as Dumbuchena and Chihambakwe, Sandura, and Nziramasanga Commissions and it must not only wait for complaints for it to carry out investigations.
The trust said a total of 141 participants attended the meeting.
"The public meeting sought to raise awareness on constitutionally provided functions of National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and to gather community views on the recently gazetted National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill," said the trust.
"The panel was composed of officials from Heal Zimbabwe, Edgar Gweshe from Crisis in Coalition in Zimbabwe and Shastry Njeru, from Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. In his opening remarks, Cleto Manjova from Heal Zimbabwe highlighted the purpose of the meeting which was to educate people on the contents of the NPRC bill so that they meaningfully participate in the public hearings on the bill."
Edgar Gweshe made a presentation on the constitutional functions of the NPRC which include ensuring post conflict justice, healing and reconciliation. Advocate Njeru then took participants through the history of violence in Zimbabwe and reconciliation attempts.
He highlighted that at independence, President Mugabe preached the message of peace but that was short-lived as there were disturbances in Matebeleland that saw a spate of violence spreading across the area.
"This defeated the call on peace and forgiveness he had enunciated at independence. These disturbances were halted when the Unity Accord was signed between ZANU PF and PF ZAPU in 1987," said the trust.
"Participants highlighted that the NPRC should also look into violations such as the 2005 Murambatsvina, which left many homeless after the government destroyed their houses.".
"The NPRC should also consider victims of government's brutality which left many homeless such as Murambatsvina", said one participant.
Participants also bemoaned the need for compensation for those who had their houses demolished. One participant highlighted that Commission should look into possible compensation for victims who had their houses demolished.
"...The NPRC should look at ways of compensating those who had their houses demolished"..., said one participant.
Some of the views from the public gathered during the meeting are,the NPRC should receive complaints from Murambatsvina victims,the NPRC should launch an investigation into the Murambatsvina violations.
The NPRC should look into possible compensation for Murambatsvina victims, the NPRC bill rests a lot of powers into the hands of the Minister, hence the Commission might be compromised in the discharge of its duties.
The Commission must also utilize the findings of past commissions such as Dumbuchena and Chihambakwe, Sandura, and Nziramasanga Commissions and it must not only wait for complaints for it to carry out investigations.
Source - Byo24News
