The Parliament of Zimbabwe’ Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) has called for nominations for persons to serve in the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) as authorities move to replace one of the nine commissioners who resigned in February.
Netty Musanhu, who was in charge of the Midlands province and served the NPRC for four years under victim support, gender and diversity thematic area and resource mobilisation, resigned citing conflict of interests.
“A vacancy has arisen in the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission after the resignation of one commissioner,” said the Parliamentary Committee in a public notice.
“Accordingly, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders is hereby calling on the public to nominate persons to be considered for appointment to the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission. The Commissioner who resigned is female and hence preference will be given to female candidates to maintain the gender balance on this Commission.
The closing date for the submission of nominations is 16:30 hours on Friday, 12th June, 2020.
The CSRO is mandated, in terms of sections 237 and 251 of the Constitution, to nominate candidates for appointment by the President, to serve as commissioners on the NPRC as provided for in Chapter 12, Part 6, of the Constitution.
The functions of the commission and the person specifications as specified under Section
252 of the Constitution include among others ensuring post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation, developing and implementing programmes to promote national healing, unity and cohesion in Zimbabwe and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Members of the NPRC, the CSRO said, must be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge and understanding of, and experience in, mediation, conciliation, conflict prevention and management, post-conflict reconciliation or peace building.
“Nomination material must consist of a typewritten submission of no more than two A4 pages long stating why the person nominated is a suitable candidate, attached to a completed nomination form, which can be obtained at Parliament Offices,” read the notice.
Meanwhile the NPRC a creation of the 2013 Constitution and whose mandate expires in 2023, is in talks with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to kick start the process of extending its 10-year term beyond 2023.
Owing to delays in enacting the enabling law, the commission only came into effect on January 5, 2018, raising concerns that it would fail to meet its constitutional obligation of delivering post-conflict justice.
