National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is already three years behind

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission which is supposed to address issues like the burning Gukurahundi massacres is already three years behind and has seven more years to go because it was given a lifespan of only 10 years.

Besides, its commissioners are working from their homes and people cannot go to private homes to make their reports.

These were some of the anomalies pointed out by the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Justice in its recommendations for the ministry’s 2018 budget.

Committee chair Fortune Chasi said the government must therefore provide the commission with adequate funding to do its work.

“They have been given a budget of $1 399 000. This is hardly anywhere near what is necessary although it represents an increase of 22%.,” he said.

“For the past years, the commissioners in this commission have been working from their houses…..This is completely undesirable. Government must make funds available to ensure that this independent commission is able to function from proper accommodation which is accessible to the public.

“The public cannot be going to the houses of commissioners to go and make their reports or complaints and so forth. This is a very critical matter..”

The Gukurahundi massacres has raised its head again after the ousting of President Robert Mugabe with the main focus being on President Emmerson Mnangagwa who has been blamed for the atrocities for years.

Mnangagwa has argued that this was a collective responsibility so he cannot take individual responsibility. But he has stated that he will appear before the commission if asked to.

Some critics say those pushing the Gukurahundi agenda are doing so for personal gain rather than for the benefit of the victims of the massacres which occurred more than 30 years ago.

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