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Traditional leaders embrace peace-building education
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
May 09, 2012

ZimRights' peace-building activities in Zaka, Masvingo have received overwhelming interest and support from local leaders of the communities.

The project so far has been brought under Chief Nhema (Zaka East) and Headman Bota of Zaka West. Underlying village heads have also received the project with enthusiasm. Outstanding though, is the Muroyi community where one of the meetings attracted five village heads, namely, Murerekwa, Zarera, Mazhetese, Punhire and Shumba. The five concurred that projects of that nature were people find time to discuss matters of peace building and the community at large were encouraged and necessary.

Compounding the amazing reception was the capacity to turn over the behaviour of some leaders who used to be against the work of civic groups. ZimRights had tried to conduct some activities in the Muroyi community before but could not get approvals from the local authorities. Notable is an anti-tortuture campaign workshop that lasted for less than thirty minutes after the headman called for it's abandonment citing purported clashes with community values. The organisation was advised to seek approval from the district administrators first and him (headman) before conducting its work.

Speaking at a meeting held on Friday last week, village-head Mazhetese testified that he used to be one of those people who were suspicious of ZimRights' work and a number of civic groups. He blamed politicians for misleading people by "painting NGOs with divisionism imagery. They lied to people that NGOs are extensions of certain political parties."

That kind of hesitation was experiences in many communities around the province. The attitude presumably emanated from the "regime change agents" tags that civic organisations have been given by some individual politicians and consequences for any association with them. However, as the current relationship indicates, ZimRights did not give up.

The five headmen are registered ZimRights members and they now form part of the mobilisation teams in their respective areas. Among the activities brought to communities under the project include: peace-building community workshops; follow-up public meetings; community peace clubs - police clubs' peace building inter-community exchange sports programs; community traditional ceremonies and provincial interactive meetings for traditional leaders.

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