via ‘Parliament must increase public participation in commissions set up’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe 2 December 2014 by Phyllis Mbanje
THE National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) has called on Parliament to increase public participation when setting up a commission charged with bringing post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation.
NTJWG chairperson Alec Muchadehama told journalists in Harare yesterday that independent commissions, in particular the National Peace and Reconciliation (NPRC), would derive their credibility mainly from the transparent manner in which they would be established.
“Such commissions should be put together through a transparent public process, so that the people of Zimbabwe, especially the survivors of human rights violations, have a sense of ownership of the process,” Muchadehama said.
The NTJWG, which is a platform established by 46 non-state Zimbabwean transitional justice stakeholders, said Parliament was also duty-bound to clarify the criteria being applied to determine shortlisting for the members of the NPRC.
“The nominated commissioners should not be selected secretly and announced suddenly. Their selection must be subjected to scrutiny and public discussion,” he said.
Among the several standards that the group laid out was the issue of protecting victims and survivors.
“Adequate protection mechanisms should be put in place because victims and survivors will not be free to interact with the commission. And those who are brave enough to do so may find themselves in danger of victimisation,” part of the document read.
The group also said it was important to respect the victims and treat them fairly and without bias nor any form of discrimination.
They urged Parliament to ensure that the body had power to call for evidence if required to do so and should not be curtailed.
“The enabling act must give the NPRC power to subpoena witnesses or anyone from whom the NPRC believes it can get information required for it to dispense its mandate and achieve its objectives,” On gender disparities, the group suggested that the commission must be sensitive to the gender dynamics in Zimbabwe.
“The NPRC must pay attention to the nature of the violations in receiving of testimonies and be attentive to the gender sensitive needs of the victims, families and or communities.”
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