National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Spokesperson Commissioner Obert Gutu says NPRC will join the rest of the world in commemorating the 2021 International Day Of Peace which is celebrated annually on the 21st of September saying the day is designated to commemorate the call for global harmony, strengthening the ideals of peace and non-violence.
Addressing the Media today, Mr Gutu said the mission is to make a commitment for a future of peace and human dignity.
“The Commission makes a national call to renew our collective commitments to peaceful nation-building, strengthened by the efforts being made by state and non-state stakeholders to even out access to life saving services, including the much-needed vaccinations,” he said.
Mr Gutu added that, as a commission they are aware of the people’s peace-related needs, they commit to working with all Zimbabweans to create a sustainable path towards true unity, healing, reconciliation and to building a culture of unity, tolerance and harmonious co-existence.
“The Commission remains alive to the echoing calls from all corners of the country for Zimbabweans to unite, reduce polarization, minimize hate speech against each other, respect traditional values of Ubuntu, celebrate our dynamism, differences and preferred affiliations, reduce divisive political and resource based conflicts, secure closure over past national conflicts and restore trust and confidence in public institutions,” Gutu said.
Moreover, Mr Gutu said they are working on ways to make the 2023 elections peaceful.
“The Commission is cognisant that elections are around the corner as 2023 beckons, as there are possibilities of conducting by-elections necessitated by vacancies created in the House of Assembly and in local authorities.
“We are therefore working on a broad based and stakeholder-driven consultation process around the country to work on and develop mutually edifying strategies for this process to be peaceful and free from disputes,” added Gutu.
The NPRC is a victim-centered Commission, which develops robust victim protection mechanisms which we are confident will safeguard those affected by conflicts especially women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly from further injury, harm or revictimization by ensuring that appropriate counselling, palliative support and referrals are rendered to them.
Their offices have been set up in the Southern Region covering Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces, Central Region covering Midlands and Masvingo Provinces, Eastern Region covering Manicaland and border areas of Mashonaland East and Masvingo Provinces and Northern Region covering Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Harare.
