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ROHR Zimbabwe and VAC joint statement on launch of peace building initiatives
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
March 11, 2010

Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) and Victims Action Committee (VAC), noting the prevailing perpetual upheaval poised at derailing not only the democratic transition, but also the existence of stability in the country, shall be unpacking a series of peace building initiatives at grassroots level with the chief aim of promoting tolerance and core existence among polarized communities.

Being aware of the likelihood of the country holding elections in the near future, it is concerning to note that the environment is still lacking on democratic pre-conditions that can guarantee a free and fair election. In which people can freely express themselves without fear of persecution.

Through undertaking peace building initiatives, we therefore pledge to work towards transforming the behavior, attitude and mindset of the traumatized electorate from the negative still nudging perception that elections are associated with anarchy, violence, torture, loss of property, murder, harassment, intimidation, pillage and above all rule of man.

The coalition government has an uphill task to do in pushing the drivers of democracy to win public confidence in contrast to the existing perennial media battles characterized by hate speech, manipulation and self serving propaganda.

It is regrettable that a year after the formation of the coalition government which broke a gridlock between the warring political parties and stirred hope of a better future among Zimbabweans, the status quo is now degenerating into a widening rift of political mistrust propelled by narrow misleading political elite ideologies that are cascading down to people on the ground causing panic, fear and unrest.

We note with concern the sprouting divisions splitting the encumbered coalition government, the intransigent forces that hover over the nation casting a dark shadow ahead of the envisaged historic constitutional making and the National healing process. We further note that the spanned deadlock between the negotiators to the Global Political Agreement is a further cause of concern threatening the spirit of unity that is pertinent in driving the country forward.

It has come to our attention, that the unbecoming intractable behavior by the security forces, particularly the police, is an archetypal act of sabotage that snuffs all the efforts of achieving a just, rational, discriminatory free society that respects the rule of law, embraces a culture of human rights, diversity and guarantees equality before the law.

We strongly do not condone the recent victimization of the labor union workers from GAPWUZ who have been forced to forsake their duties fleeing threats by the police; the outbreak of political violence in Epworth; the allegations of illicit deals and corruption surrounding the mining of diamonds in Chiadzwa.

As organizations indebted to a wide constituency of victims who bore the brunt of political violence across the country, we succinctly believe that the government, through its arm, the organ on National Healing is dragging its feet in timely responding to the various needs of the voiceless victims of political violence who are still smarting from the scourge of immense suffering.

Understanding the untold suffering that the majority of Zimbabweans endured during the unprecedented level of organized political violence which engulfed the nation during the March-June elections of 2008, leaving a multitude of victims, we hold that such a sad chapter of our history should never be allowed to take precedence. We strongly condemn any political activities that are bent on dividing the nation and opening the gates of turmoil.

Appreciating the ultimate goal of National Healing, we challenge the government to scale up efforts in implementing short term interventions which target the immediate redress of the plight of the worst affected victims on issues to do with livelihoods capacity building, psycho-social support, medical assistance, economic empowerment and bolstering security and protection from the state.

From the mandate bestowed upon us by our members, as a matter of principle we advocate for a National Healing process that is victim centered, community based; gender sensitive built on values of national truth telling, transitional justice, transparency, free society, respect for equality, freedom of expression and exclusivity. Provision of restorative and retributive justice is an integral part of a credible, fair and responsive National Healing Process.

Perpetrators who ordered gross crimes against humanity like sponsored murder, torture and rape should not only be disallowed to lead the process, but should be prosecuted as a demonstration of seriousness on the part of the government's non tolerance of violence and impunity. However, for the healing process to be holistic it needs the full active participation of both victims and perpetrators. National mechanism should be put in place for perpetrators to voluntarily come forward and confess their partaking and acknowledgment of wrong doing.

ROHR Zimbabwe and VAC are grassroots based victim oriented organizations working towards the empowerment and improvement of standards of living among victims of political violence through community mobilization, capacity building and active responses to human rights challenges.

Jointly the two organizations have a database of more than 50 000 victims of political violence dating back to the post independence era.

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