Resolutions
Mindful of the current talks between the political protagonists in Zimbabwe and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 21 July 2008;
Noting the failure by the political parties to adequately address issues of transitional justice in their MoU;
Requiring that the Zimbabwean people and civil society organisations be given a full opportunity to make an input into the process taking place to bring about transition to a new political order to streamline the human rights content of any settlement that may be reached;
Further recalling the Symposium on Transitional Justice held in Johannesburg 11-13 August 2003;
Being mindful of the resolutions adopted at the aforementioned
Symposium and the steps taken by various stakeholders towards the achievement of these resolutions;
We the organisations represented herein at the Transitional Justice; –
“The options for Zimbabwe” Workshop being fully committed to truth, justice, accountability and the need for sustainable peace in Zimbabwe hereby make the following resolutions;
1. We reiterate the resolutions made at the Johannesburg Symposium and remain committed to the fulfilment of these resolution;
2. That civil society organisations work together in order to achieve the resolution agreed upon at this workshop;
3. We encourage the political parties involved in the talks to honour their commitments as stated in their MoU to bring about a lasting solution to the Zimbabwe crisis particularly, but not exclusively, an end to the human rights violations;
4. Further reiterating the need for judicial and non judicial transitional justice mechanisms to be set up in Zimbabwe that conform to the following fundamental principles;
4.1 Victim – centred;
4.2 Comprehensive, inclusive, consultative participation of all stakeholders, particularly the victims;
4.3The establishment of the truth;
4.4Acknowledgment;
4.5Justice, Compensation and Reparations
4.6National healing and reconciliation;
4.7Non-repetition (never again);
4.8Gender sensitive;
4.9Transparency and accountability, and
4.10 Nation building and reintegration.
5. That there is need for institutional transformation guided by legislative reform through the writing of model laws by interested stakeholders; –
(Judicial and justice Reform)
(Electoral reform)
(Constitutional Reform)
(Media Reform)
6. Civil society works with the elected legislators to bring about this change.
7. Acknowledging that the organisations here present work in different thematic areas, and there shall be a need to group them accordingly at a later stage to carry out specific tasks.
8. That the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum ensures the implementation of these resolutions.
9. The organisations here present also made several minimum demands for a transitional process in Zimbabwe. These demands are attached as an appendix to this resolution.