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National
Peace Convention (NPC)
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition
December 13, 2002
Convention Background
and Objectives
"Love and
faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each
other" Psalm 85, vs. 10
Introduction
The Zimbabwean
people have been subjected to violence and coercion at many stages in
their history:
- the colonial occupation
violated peoples’ right to govern themselves, the land laws and the
tax laws dispossessed people of their livelihoods, and was imposed by
force under the façade of law;
- the liberation
war period saw an increase of violence and coercion by the Rhodesian
state, with detentions, executions, and the forced movement of people
into keeps, while the liberation forces also used military discipline
and force.
In 1980, Zimbabwe
gained independence, and reconciliation was a key plank of the new government’s
programme. Thus, the people in our nation looked forward to an era of
peace and harmony. While economic progress took place and there was an
apparent absence of nationwide conflict, there were still very worrying
trends:
- The indiscriminate
and widespread violence (including the use of the army) against civilian
population across Matebeleland and the Midlands between 1983 and 1987;
- The intolerance
and organized violence used to prevent the activities of the opposition
parties in the 1985, 1990 and 1995/6 elections;
- The high level
of violence during the period from February 2000 to the present time,
especially during elections.
This violence has
involved numerous deaths, arson, abductions, malicious damage to property,
beatings, organized torture, forced displacement of perceived opponents,
threats, harassment and terrorizing of opponents. Most seriously affected
have been women, children, farm-workers, teachers, and perceived political
opponents. A dizzying downward spiral in the economic situation, leading
to increasing poverty and destitution, has accompanied violence. Our society
is being torn asunder by a climate of fear, intolerance, partisanship,
and even hate.
Therefore, Zimbabwe
needs peace, tolerance, dialogue and healing in order to move towards
stability, genuine and participatory democracy, and economic development
that serves the interests of all. It will not "happen", it
has to be worked for.
The DRAFT National
Peace Accord is proposed as a collective process, which will involve the
whole society in taking responsibility for restoring peace to our country.
It will be launched at this National Peace Convention.
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition
The Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition is a broad and non partisan coalition of more than
300 civil society organisations and fifteen national coalitions. Its work
and programme are based on principles of Tolerance, inclusiveness, solidarity
and mutual respect and support. The coalition and its member organisations
are committed towards establishing and promoting a Zimbabwe based on peace,
justice, and non violence. They envision a non partisan, non sexist and
non racist nation in which human rights are protected, all citizens are
seen as equal, and government, business and civil society alike are transparent,
accountable and act with integrity. To this end, the Coalition and its
member organisations are committed to proactive measures in line with
these principles.
National Peace
Building Committee (NPBC)
The National
Peace-building Committee, is facilitated by the Peace building Subcommittee
of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. Its vision is "peace with
truth and justice." The mission of the NPBC is to make every
Zimbabwean an agent for peace.
To this end, the NPBC:
- Encourages and
supports work for a society that is open for initiatives and creativity;
- Facilitates a process
that equips with skills and motivates all interested sectors to work
for peace in Zimbabwe; and
- Promotes processes
that engender responsible citizenship, solidarity and social accountability
amongst all Zimbabweans.
The NPBC therefore
recognizes that peaceful and harmonious societies need to be dynamic and
lively, involving multiple parties, organizations, and initiatives. The
violence and intolerance of monolithic politics prevent dynamism and energy
in our society. This frustrates the growth of a democratic culture, accountable
governance and national development. Without these, peace, justice and
reconciliation are not possible.
Some reflections
on violence, peace and society
"Violence
can only be sustained by lies," wrote Gandhi during his struggle
against British imperialism in the 1930s. But, he also wrote, non-violence
is the most powerful force in the world, and against it no powers can
stand.
Peaceful and harmonious
societies need to be dynamic and lively, involving multiple parties, organisations,
and initiatives. "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools
of thought contend," wrote a Chinese philosopher. What prevents the
dynamism and the energy of the society is the violence of a monolithic
and centralised state, which seeks to interfere and to regulate all activities
within the society. In the end this control can only be imposed through
violence, operated overtly and covertly, directly and indirectly, by the
state.
The first Prime Minister
of independent Zimbabwe spoke to the nation on 4 March 1980 in these terms:
" ……only a
government that subjects itself to the rule of law has any moral right
to the demands of its citizens to the obedience of the rule of law…..surely
this is now the time to beat our swords into ploughshares so we can
attend to the problems of developing our economy and our society…..I
urge you, whether you are black or white, to join me in a new pledge
to forget our grim past, forgive others and forget, join hands in a
new amity, and together, as Zimbabweans, trample upon racialism, tribalism
and regionalism, and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate our society
as we reinvigorate our economic machinery"
Peace is the desire
of all humane and balanced people, because
it provides the opportunity for living life to the full.
It is in this context
that the National Peace Building Coalition proposed the holding of the
National Peace Convention. The Convention can only come to fruition through
the full, active and enthusiastic participation of all sectors of Zimbabwean
society. Only through our common resolve and action can peace and tolerance
be restored, nurtured and protected in our country.
The Vision: Peace
with truth and justice in Zimbabwe
Conference
Theme: Another Zimbabwe is possible
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
The National
Peace Convention (NPC) starts on Friday, the 13th December
2002 with deliberations of a select ‘Think Tank’ of approximately 50 Zimbabweans.
There will be an official
opening of the convention on the evening of the 13th December
2002 at the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel. All participants to the main convention
on Saturday 14 December 2002 are invited to the cocktail launch, which
starts at 18:30 hours. There will also be a Peace Concert on the evening
of the 14th December 2002 to round off the proceedings. Several
leading musicians from Zimbabwe are billed to perform at this concert.
The broad Objectives
of the Convention are to:
- Share regional
experiences in National healing, peace, justice and reconciliation as
well as the relevance of these experiences to current situation in Zimbabwe;
- Review the situation
of conflict and tension in the country;
- Consolidate an
audit of the initiatives and activities leading towards peace;
- Agree a common
perspective and process for peace-building.
Convention outcomes
- Launching and signing
of a National Peace Accord by Zimbabweans as a to initiate a process
that can involve the whole society in taking responsibility for restoring
in Zimbabwe;
- A multi-sectoral
position on peace, justice and reconciliation issues in Zimbabwe
- A collective strategy
for dealing with conflict at the local, national and regional levels.
Visit the Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition fact sheet
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