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.

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.