Transitional Justice and Political Reforms in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper analyses the enduring challenge of political violence and conflict in Zimbabwe, despite ongoing efforts toward national reconciliation, peacebuilding, and nation-building since 1980. The success of post-conflict reconstruction fundamentally relies on developing specific, localized capacities to manage future violence. The study examines the role of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) as the nation's primary institutional attempt to address past violent conflicts and build local capacity for a peaceful future. While acknowledging that conflicts manifest across various interconnected societal layers—from household disputes to broader land conflicts—the core argument posits that the majority of Zimbabwean conflicts remain deeply rooted in disputes over national power (politics) and pervasive socio-economic hardships. The paper argues that effective peacebuilding requires a holistic strategy that moves beyond superficial reconciliation to address these fundamental structural drivers of instability.