Zimbabwe needs a Truth and Reconciliation Commission

As Zimbabwe slowly re-engages the International Community a rare opportunity exists to address past misdeeds without necessarily rocking the reconciliation and unity boat. The best way to do this is through a Truth and Reconciliation Commission which may have powers to forgive in exchange for honest testimony or refer matters for further investigation. A truth commission or truth and reconciliation commission is a commission tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government, in the hope of resolving conflict left over from the past.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa is a known supporter of the Zimbabwean people and his expertise can be drawn in crafting the framework and terms of reference for a similar commission for Zimbabwe.

In the 1980s Zimbabwe held the Sandura Commission which investigated the corruption surrounding the distribution of new vehicles at Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries. Whilst no-one was arrested or jailed directly from the Commission’s findings the Commission succeeded in reshaping the political landscape especially within ZANU -PF with several party heavy weights resigning from top leadership positions.

In addition the Sandura Commission served as a critical platform to keep a check on the corruption cancer which was beginning to take root. Therefore the Commission by merely being constituted and making public its hearings can result in significant results without prosecuting or persecuting those exposed by such findings.

Zimbabwe’s short but eventful has witnessed some horrific and sad moments inflicted upon its citizens by those expected to provide protection and safety. In addition to human rights abuses there are other material and dramatic events that have taken the country in the wrong direction. These include Operation Murambatsvina, Operation Sunrise , Financial Crisis of 2003-4 , Quasi Fiscal Activities , Chiadzwa Diamond killings and torture and various other events which resulted in massive economic melt down and human suffering.

The Commission would then be able to investigate and document these various events in a manor that allows the healing and developing systems and rules which will make it difficult for such events from ever recurring.


For a Transitional democratic state such as Zimbabwe the Commission’s purpose would be to foster national legitimacy and reconcile the past for the sake of national unity which will allow national healing without some national guilty of a national cover up.


Canada, Argentina, Ghana, Fiji, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Morocco, South Africa ,South Korea and The United States are among a list of nations that have held Truth and Reconciliation commissions to investigate and document various past misdeeds which were partially blamed on the Government .

These nations have managed to build on the these Commissions and develop a more balanced and tolerant society. Such a process is critical in re-gaining national pride and building the citizens’ confidence that the country is more open and all people are safe and secure.


Truth commissions are often criticized for allowing crimes to go unpunished, and creating an escape loophole for serious human rights violators . One of the difficult issues that has arisen over the role of truth commissions in transitional societies such as Zimbabwe, has centered around what should be the nature relationship between truth commissions and criminal prosecutions. This can be debated and modified depending on where the national healing process is but the presence on such a Commission alone sends a clear message that this is a new Zimbabwe and change is irreversible.

Whilst there are calls for lifting of sanctions and renewed aid the commission can also play a role in alerting the International Community that Zimbabwe is serious about respecting its citizens wishes for a better life and secure future.