Civil Society To Launch Peace Building Initiative
By Own Correspondent – Tommorrow, Tuesday 31 August marks the official launch of a historic peace building initiative to be spearheaded by four civil society organizations, Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Victims Action Committee (VAC) and Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) under the banner “YOU AND I CAN MAKE PEACE HAPPEN’’. The drive behind the project is to promote peace, tolerance and national healing among Zimbabweans during the critical time of transformation.
The launch is expected to be graced by various stakeholders among them government officials, members of the diplomatic core, private sector, media, lawyers, members from the various political parties. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to officially signal the rolling of the initiative. Peace building is one of the critical impetus upon which the transition is premised to succeed as the country is making efforts to transform from past legacies of instability and build a bridge into a vision of a democratic society.
The initiative coincides with the African Union’s (AU) recognition for the need of peace among the human family and the subsequent declaration of 2010 as the year of peace and security in Africa. Taking into context the country’s trajectory, the project seeks to encourage the nation to assume deliberate responsibility upon every individual to ensure the observance and sustenance of peace and also among other things:
· Raise awareness on peace building and national healing
· Build skills and capacities among civil society leaders, community members on peace building, national healing and conflict management.
· Broker relationships among key actors on peace building.
Meanwhile Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe celebrates its third anniversary on the night of the peace building launch after propelled into existence by the need to see a peaceful, just and free nation that is conscious of and respects human rights. The organization continues to grow under the guided values of peace, justice and freedom.
