Overall targets
The objective is to empower and emotionally support women/men of two Matabeleland Provinces, Zimbabwe in taking advantage of the truth telling outreach of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, to place the history of the ‘Gukurahundi’ massacres of the 1980s into the national historical record, thereby promoting the integration of victims into the Zimbabwe body politick.
Immediate targets
1. Training: Capacity developed among 30 members of civics, churches, community development structures and traditional leadership from the provinces of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo to offer ethical psychosocial support and guidance to victims of Gukurahundi who wish to testify to the NPRC. 2. Psychosocial support: Psychosocial support to victims before, during and after hearings, both through the interventions of UT and ToL, and through support from trainees.
Target groups
1. 30 members of civics, churches, community development structures and traditional leadership from the provinces of Matabeleland North and Bulawayo trained to offer ethical psychosocial support and guidance to victims of Gukurahundi who wish to testify to the NPRC 2. 180 victims, who receive psychosocial support before, during and/or after testifying to the NPRC. It is essential that victims be supported even before the hearings to gain confidence when talking about such traumatic experiences.
Resume
The purpose is to empower and emotionally support women & men of two Matabeleland Provinces, Zimbabwe to take advantage of the truth telling outreach of the National Peace & Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), to place the history of the ‘Gukurahundi’ massacres of the 1980s into the national historical record, thereby promoting the integration of victims into the Zimbabwe body politick. This will be done by attending to victims wishing to witness before, during and after the testimonies are made to NPCR. The project will use the present unique situation permitting such activities. The project will be implemented by a partnership of Ukuthula Trust & Tree of Life in Zimbabwe & the Danish based Nunca Mas: International Network for Human Rights and Psycho-Social Response. The three organisations have experiences in using testimonies, which done appropriately has shown having the potential to offer victims healing, empowerment and with conducive conditions, even justice. This will strengthen the peace and reconciliation process undertaken by NPRC by maximising the quality of the testimonies and minimising the risks from testifying.