Perspective from Mutoko
Zimbabwe, like every other country in the world, has experienced the shocks brought about
by the COVID-19.
Societies have had to endure social and economic depression for over a year and although
the vaccine has brought about due relief, the road to recovery, especially for rural
communities in Zimbabwe, is still long.
This year, the theme for the International Day of Peace was “Recovering better for an
equittable and sustainable world.”
To demonstrate the sheer resilience of the communities the Zimbabwe Peace Project works
in, the organization conducted a colourful commemoration ceremony at Chindenga
Secondary School in Mutoko.
Here, members of the community, with the support of their local leaders and government
officials including the Mutoko District Development Coordinator Emilda Chidarikire all
gathered for one cause, PEACE.
For a community that is known to have a long history of violent politics and a high number of
domestic violence cases, Mutoko North has transformed, many thanks to the various
peacebuilding initiatives that ZPP has conducted in the area over the past years.
So, even as people gathered to celebrate the International Day of Peace, it was all harmony.
Communities celebrated this day in dance, drama and theatre acts that highlighted the
problems that COVID-19 brought about, and the home grown solutions the communities
have resorted to using.
The International Day of Peace is significant to the work of ZPP as peace is a key part of the
organization’s vision for a Zimbabwe where there is Peace, Justice, Dignity and Development
for all.
We believe that everything begins with tolerance, coexistence and respect, and all these are
what makes a national peaceful. It is with the peace that justice, dignity and development can
manifest.
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THE TAKE AWAYS
When a community works together, like is happening in Mutoko North, they are able to
confront social, economic and political challenges with collective influence.
For example, the communities have, with the support of ZPP and other organisations,
successfully lobbied for local-based black granite processing plants. ZPP is informed that
there are two plants currently under construction.
The community has also continued to utilize local structures like Child Care Workers
Committees to protect the rights of women and children.
ZPP continues to urge government and the local authorities to implement community grown
development initiatives.
This is what they said on the International Day of Peace:
We need to step up our peace and resilience as a community so that we contribute to
sustainable development. Community members need to look out for each other to protect
children and all vulnerable groups”
Mutoko District Development Co-Ordinator Emilda Chidarikire
We thank ZPP for bringing everyone together to highlight issues that we face. I believe that
my community has embraced peace-building initiatives. We continue to hope to see a
decline in cases of abuse being reported to the police and the traditional courts because with
such peace-building initiatives, people will live together within their differences. Headman
Chindenga, Mutoko North.