SPECIAL FEATURE: ZPP STATEMENT ON NATIONAL PEACE AND
RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
16 May, 2016
STATEMENT ON NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
As Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) we have been following with keen interest developments around
the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Bill and welcome the withdrawal of the
Bill from Parliament although we hope the withdrawal will result in a better Bill that is not only in
line with constitution but addresses all the issues raised on it to date.
We acknowledge the concerns raised by the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC) in their adverse
report of the NPRC Bill; and associate ourselves with the issues raised by citizens who participated in
the public hearings. The PLC noted that the Bill violates the Constitution in limiting the power of the
Commission and reduces it to simply producing a report for the Minister and gives the Minister
power to interfere with the Commission’s reception of evidence. The PLC also criticised the Bill for
giving the Minister power to second persons from the civil service to the Commission’s secretariat
and for interfering with the Commission’s financial autonomy. The majority of the citizens who
submitted their views to Parliament during the hearings raised concern with the powers given to the
Minister in the Bill which they felt compromised the independence and autonomy of the NPRC.
As such we commend government for withdrawing the Bill and look forward to a fresh process with
an improved Bill, which takes into consideration observations made by Parliament and citizens.
Government is also encouraged to take note of international best practise in particular noting the
importance of the protection of victims of episodes of conflict when they give evidence.
We call upon government to ensure that further process regarding this be consultative and all
inclusive. It is imperative that public hearings of this Bill are conducted as far and wide as possible to
ensure inclusivity of even those in remote and outlying areas as opposed to the last process that saw
only a few areas of the country scheduled to have the public hearings. It is also of critical importance
for the nation to be made aware of the objectives of the NPRC so that the public hearings can be
held with minimum disturbance. ENDS///
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