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Heal Zimbabwe hold public awareness meeting on National Peace and Reconciliation
29 Mar 2016 at 06:26hrs | Views
Heal Zimbabwee Trust recently held a public awareness meeting on the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Bill in Chinhoyi at Shingirayi Training Centre.
The trust said the meeting was attended by 121 community members.
"The public meeting allowed local community members to understand the constitutionally provided functions of National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as well as airing their concerns and reservations about the contents of the Bill," said the trust.
"Peter Liwanda of Chinhoyi Residents Trust presented on Zimbabwe's history of conflict and violence and subsequent attempts for reconciliation while Heal Zimbabwe Trust provided an analysis of the NPRC Bill and its observations on the Bill's shortcomings."
Chinhoyi residents made some remarks on the issues of concern.
"The powers of the Minister are too much to allow independence of the Commission by virtue of having powers to issue a certificate of non-disclosure. He is a political appointee who could act in a partisan manner hence compromising the independence of the commission," said the trust.
"The Chairperson of the Commission Cyril Ndebele used to be a Zanu PF member with a history of being appointed by the President. Therefore, his neutrality could be doubtful. Instead, they preferred a Church Leader or a person who has never held a political office."
The trust said the genuineness of the NPRC was also doubted given that there are other Commissions since 1980 and their recommendations.
"On Investigations, the current Bill criminalizes the victim. It makes it difficult for people who were victimized to present their cases with all the supporting evidence. Section 8(7) is not clear on what factors the Minister will take into consideration when issuing a Certificate," said the trust.
"The Bill does not indicate or acknowledge the number of languages that will be used during enquiries and acknowledging the fact that there are people who may not be able to write. The Bill lacks sincerity and clarity on what the Commission will consider as the "past," "human rights violations, "inadequate/false evidence" among many other terms," said the trust.
"The Bill is silent on corrective measures that will be taken when someone is proven guilty of committing human rights violations. For the purposes of facilitating economic justice / healing, the Bill is silent on helping bankers, pensioners and the public who lost their savings in banks and insurance policies during the country's hyperinflation and dollarization periods."
The trust said the meeting was attended by 121 community members.
"The public meeting allowed local community members to understand the constitutionally provided functions of National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as well as airing their concerns and reservations about the contents of the Bill," said the trust.
"Peter Liwanda of Chinhoyi Residents Trust presented on Zimbabwe's history of conflict and violence and subsequent attempts for reconciliation while Heal Zimbabwe Trust provided an analysis of the NPRC Bill and its observations on the Bill's shortcomings."
Chinhoyi residents made some remarks on the issues of concern.
"The Chairperson of the Commission Cyril Ndebele used to be a Zanu PF member with a history of being appointed by the President. Therefore, his neutrality could be doubtful. Instead, they preferred a Church Leader or a person who has never held a political office."
The trust said the genuineness of the NPRC was also doubted given that there are other Commissions since 1980 and their recommendations.
"On Investigations, the current Bill criminalizes the victim. It makes it difficult for people who were victimized to present their cases with all the supporting evidence. Section 8(7) is not clear on what factors the Minister will take into consideration when issuing a Certificate," said the trust.
"The Bill does not indicate or acknowledge the number of languages that will be used during enquiries and acknowledging the fact that there are people who may not be able to write. The Bill lacks sincerity and clarity on what the Commission will consider as the "past," "human rights violations, "inadequate/false evidence" among many other terms," said the trust.
"The Bill is silent on corrective measures that will be taken when someone is proven guilty of committing human rights violations. For the purposes of facilitating economic justice / healing, the Bill is silent on helping bankers, pensioners and the public who lost their savings in banks and insurance policies during the country's hyperinflation and dollarization periods."
Source - Byo24News
