A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION PROCESS FOR ZIMBABWE? SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

This paper considers African and other truth commissions and applies the lessons and experiences of other countries in order to map a strategy and offer a model for a Zimbabwean truth and reconciliation commission. Given Zimbabwe’s history (especially over the last three years) of collective violence and serious human rights abuses, the paper proposes that a truth commission in post-transition Zimbabwe might be an important means of promoting reconciliation and reducing past tensions. To this end the paper focuses on the manner in which a future Zimbabwean truth and reconciliation commission might be established. The paper also provides a brief
synopsis of the topic of amnesty and considers how an amnesty process might be accommodated within a future Zimbabwean truth and reconciliation comission and how such amnesty process might be reconciled with the imperative of prosecuting offenders in light of the recently created International Criminal Court.