The advent of Covid-19 is undoubtedly a threat to international peace and security as world economies are impacted negatively resulting in ripple effects across the globe. The pandemic has added misery to a world already reeling under the burden of climate change. As a member of the global family, Zimbabwe is not spared from these negative effects of this pandemic.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission commends the rapid response by the Government of Zimbabwe through the measures already announced by His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa as spelt out in SI 83 of 2020 aimed at the prevention and containment of Covid-19.

The Commission is fully in support of these measures as healthy communities are key in the aspiration of national vision of a peaceful Zimbabwe for all generations.

It is well understood that the measures announced above will impose restrictions on citizens, but for a good cause, curtail any potential spread of the virus.

Citizens are urged to cooperate with all guidelines as set out by government’s Covid-19 Taskforce and to comply with law enforcement authorities while in the exercise of their legally assigned duties during the 21 day lock down period.

This, in the belief of the Commission, will help to reduce conflicts and maintain peace, law and order whilst the measures are in full effect.

The Commission stands ready, in terms of its mandate, to support any efforts to build peace and dissipate conflicts should this become necessary during the containment measures.

We encourage our beloved law enforcement agents to exercise restraint and act within the confines of the law in the discharge of their duties throughout this period. Consideration should be taken to the special needs of women, children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Unless exempted and permitted by the law, let us stay at home, wash our hands with soap and water and practice social distancing.

TOGETHER WE CAN

PEACE BEGINS WITH ME, PEACE BEGINS WITH YOU, PEACE BEGINS WITH ALL OF US.

National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Commissioner Charles Masunungure giving objectives of the Consensus Building   workshop between NPRC and Provincial heads of Government  departments  in Mashonaland Central Province.

Commissioner Masunungure pointed out that the purpose of NPRC’s Complaints Handling and Investigations Department is to establish the truth in order to facilitate healing and reconciliation to those affected by conflicts. He also indicated that the Commission will request for assistance from ZRP to conduct investigations.

At the same workshop NPRC Commissioner Choice Ndoro presented the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Strategic Plan.

National Peace  and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) conducted a one and half day training workshop in Harare from the 13^th – 14^th March 2020  for enumerators for  conflict mapping baseline survey in  Harare,  Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.  NPRC’s Research and Knowledge Management thematic area facilitated the training. The enumerators’ workshop looked at the various conflict epochs in Zimbabwe dating back to the 11^th Century to the current post independent period.

The workshop aimed at equipping the enumerators with basic skills for collecting data for a baseline study. The enumerators’ workshop focused on the following;

• Attributes of a good researcher
• Background to the survey
• Expected outcomes of the study
• Sexual crimes
• Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index (SCORE)
• Conflict Early Warning Early Response (CEWER).

The workshop indicated the following as objectives of the study;

• To outline the nature, scope, causes consequences, actors and impact of conflicts in identified areas in Zimbabwe’s ten provinces
• Identify community approaches in resolving/ alternative dispute resolution mechanisms

Sub-objectives were also identified as the following;

• To identify types of conflicts whose consequences communities still feel
• Alternative dispute resolution mechanism
• To identify sexual crimes committed against women and girls during conflicts period
• To identify the level  of social cohesion in the country
• To gauge visibility, awareness and impact of NPRC

The Mashonaland East Peace Committee has summarised the major conflicts affecting the Province:

a) Land disputes (residential and farming land including boundary disputes)
b) Political conflicts
c) Partisan distribution of inputs especially along political lines
d) Wanton extraction of natural resources with no social investments
e) Domestic violence and girl child abuse
f) Leadership conflicts in churches

We are committed to transitioning Zimbabwe from a conflictual past to a sustainable, harminious and peaceful society through generations!

NPRC engages the National and Provincial Police Commanders on a Consensus Building/Capacity Enhancement Workshop. The NPRC explains it’s mandate which is enshrined in section 252 of the constitution. The mandate of the NPRC explains what it was created to do.

The broad functions of the NPRC are therefore the following:
a) To ensure post conflict justice,healing and reconciliation.
b)To develop and implement programmes to promote national healing,unity and cohesion in Zimbabwe and peaceful resolution of disputes.
c) to bring about national reconciliation by encouraging people to tell the truth about the past and facilitating the making of amends and the provision of justice.
d) to develop procedures and institutions at a national level to facilitate dialogue among political parties,communities,organisations and other groups,in order to prevent conflicts and disputes arising in the future.
e) to develop programmes to ensure that persons subjected to persecution, torture and other forms of abuse receive rehabilitation treatment and support
f) to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers appropriate.
g) to develop mechanisms for early detection of areas of potential conflicts and disputes,and to take appropriate preventive measures.
h) to do anything incidental to the prevention of conflict and the promotion of peace.
I) to conciliate and mediate disputes among communities, organisations, groups and individuals.
j) to recommend legislation to ensure that assistance, including documentation, is rendered to persons affected by conflicts ,pandemics or other circumstances.

The major recommendation for NPRC suggested by Dr Prisca Kamungi is the need to manage expectations by:
a) Establishing the kind of CEWER mechanism that is to be set up;
b) Establishing the legal framework to set up an early warning system;
c) Defining the terms of reference of the CEWER structure
d) Defining institutional arrangements beyond NPRC’s mandate including buy in and linkages with the response organs and political establishment
e) Deal with contentious issues so that no further conflicts are created
Thank you Dr Kamungi

Indigeneous knowledge systems are central in the decision of early warning. Local people can interpret things in the environment and warn of impending conflicts. There is a gendered lens to conflict early warning systems and preparedness. If a woman detects certain conflict signs, it may mean something different to them as it would be to men

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) condemns the on-going xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the Republic of South Africa. Attacks of this nature call for urgent concerted efforts by the Government of South Africa, Sadc leaders and other peace-loving bodies.