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ASC prepares activists for conflict
Mxolisi Ncube, The Zimbabwean
April 24, 2013

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/zimbabwe/65177/asc-prepares-activists-for-conflict.html

A civil society organisation, Action Support Centre, has launched a programme aimed at helping Africans find solutions and ways of adapting to such conflict situations like the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

The programme is built upon people to people solidarity activities to be rolled out throughout this year. ASC spokesman Philani Ndebele said the first in the programme was the Applied Conflict Transformation Course, held recently in Berea.

“The course brought together 22 activists from a number of oganisations and movements, including Diaspora formations in South Africa,” said Ndebele, who was also a facilitator in the course. The workshop’s theme was “Transforming Conflict in Communities; Exploring Conflict and Structural Violence.”

“Focus areas included understanding conflict and violence, exploring tools for conflict analysis, input and analysis from specialist resource people focusing on the two critical areas of developing a transformation agenda in the region, reflections and drawing lessons from the Zimbabwe Political Agreement (GPA), the constitutional referendum, prospects and challenges for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.”

Ndebele said the ASC’s broad strategy was to help people share their experiences of conflict and violence situations, so that they could deepen their understanding of conflict transformation, build relationships, strengthen networks and develop strategies to transforming conflict in communities.

“Drawing participants from a diverse background and particularly those coming from Zimbabwe, and including a strong focus on Zimbabwe issues is a way to deepen and strengthen solidarity ahead of the much-anticipated elections,” said Ndebele.

“We equip participants with Conflict Early Warning Mechanisms, Conflict Mapping, and Effective Ways of Investigating Trouble spots, skills and knowledge that are becoming increasingly needed and relevant to activists working on the ground, given the history of politically motivated violence and ongoing attacks on human rights activists in Zimbabwe.”

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