African countries have a wealth of experience in implementing truth commissions and adapting them to their national contexts, spanning several decades. As noted in the 2019 African Union Transitional Justice Policy, truth commissions are an indicative element of transitional justice. They are “legal bodies established to examine and address violations and abuses. They also serve to establish a full historical record of such violations, including the various experiences of different groups such as women, children and youth, the identity of the victims and perpetrators, as well as the role of various State and non-State institutions, and to provide for measures of reconciliation and healing.”
For each truth commission, when available, this database includes the commission’s mandate, method and year of establishment, period active and final report. It also includes the conflict period as defined in the mandate and the peace agreement that gave rise to the commission. The database was updated in 2023.
Zimbabwe
Commission of Inquiry into the Matabeleland Disturbances
The four-person Commission of Inquiry into the Matabeleland Disturbances, known as the Chihambakwe Commission after its chairperson, was mandated to investigate the killings of 1,500 political dissidents and other civilians in the Matabeleland region in 1983 and to gather testimony. The commission submitted its final report to government, which did not make it public.
|
Established |
Conflict Period |
Mandate |
Final Report | Peace Agreement |
|
1983, by presidential order |
1981 |
– |
Report not made public | – |
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (2018-present) was mandated to foster post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation and create programmes that foster unity in Zimbabwe. According to its founding legislation, the commission was tasked with informing the public of Zimbabwe’s history, developing national systems that create dialogue to preemptively address conflict, creating systems to ensure that victims receive rehabilitation for past human rights abuses, and generally fostering peace and preventing conflict. The founding legislation also requires the creation of a Gender Unit to incorporate gender into the design of the commission and throughout its operations, to work with victims of gender-based violence and address their specific needs, and to ensure that there is a chapter dedicated to gender in each commission report. Finally, the commission is required to submit annual reports to Parliament that detail its findings, budget information and recommendations.
|
Established |
Conflict Period |
Mandate |
Final Report | Peace Agreement |
|
2018, by legislation |
Ongoing |
National Peace and Reconciliation Act of 2018 | Annual reports | – |