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Zimbabwe: The price of reconciliation Zimbabwe: The price of reconciliation
(about 2 hours later)
Some Zimbabweans remain sceptical about the 'unity' government By Andrew Harding BBC News, HarareSome Zimbabweans remain sceptical about the 'unity' government By Andrew Harding BBC News, Harare
As Zimbabwe launches a debate about "national healing" after years of political violence, the country's prime minister has told the BBC that those found responsible for a wave of killings and torture should "not necessarily" be sent to jail.As Zimbabwe launches a debate about "national healing" after years of political violence, the country's prime minister has told the BBC that those found responsible for a wave of killings and torture should "not necessarily" be sent to jail.
At the same time, some victims have expressed concern they will never see justice or compensation.At the same time, some victims have expressed concern they will never see justice or compensation.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was speaking in Harare where the new unity government has just unveiled an "Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration" or ONHRI.Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was speaking in Harare where the new unity government has just unveiled an "Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration" or ONHRI.
They wanted to silence me at all costs Josphat ChidindiMDC activist href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6818">Has life in Zimbabwe changed? They wanted to silence me at all costs Josphat ChidindiMDC activist href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6818">Send us your comments
Mr Tsvangirai, who has himself been severely beaten by members of President Robert Mugabe's security forces, stressed that he was "not just saying - forgive, heal and reconcile".Mr Tsvangirai, who has himself been severely beaten by members of President Robert Mugabe's security forces, stressed that he was "not just saying - forgive, heal and reconcile".
But he said "justice needs forgiveness… and if we do retributive justice, the danger is that we may slide back" towards violence.But he said "justice needs forgiveness… and if we do retributive justice, the danger is that we may slide back" towards violence.
What reconciliation?What reconciliation?
John Nkomo, a senior figure in Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF, and chairman of ONHRI, said that "anyone who has broken the law should be put on trial".John Nkomo, a senior figure in Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF, and chairman of ONHRI, said that "anyone who has broken the law should be put on trial".
But he also argued against a rush to judgment.But he also argued against a rush to judgment.
"Yes, people were killed; yes, people fight; yes, they may still be fighting, but… this nation is going through a process and these tensions, unless properly managed, could create more tensions for us and we don't want that.""Yes, people were killed; yes, people fight; yes, they may still be fighting, but… this nation is going through a process and these tensions, unless properly managed, could create more tensions for us and we don't want that."
Emmanuel Chiroto says the people who killed his wife are still at largeEmmanuel Chiroto says the people who killed his wife are still at large
None of this seems likely to reassure Emmanuel Chiroto.None of this seems likely to reassure Emmanuel Chiroto.
One year ago, a group of Zanu-PF militia abducted his wife, Abigail, from their home on the edge of Harare.One year ago, a group of Zanu-PF militia abducted his wife, Abigail, from their home on the edge of Harare.
Mr Chiroto, an MDC activist, had just been elected the city's deputy mayor. His wife's badly beaten body was found on a roadside soon afterwards.Mr Chiroto, an MDC activist, had just been elected the city's deputy mayor. His wife's badly beaten body was found on a roadside soon afterwards.
"I've got the names of six people responsible," said Mr Chiroto, wandering round the ruins of his home, which was firebombed during the attack."I've got the names of six people responsible," said Mr Chiroto, wandering round the ruins of his home, which was firebombed during the attack.
"They live round here. I see them often. But none of them have even been picked up for questioning.""They live round here. I see them often. But none of them have even been picked up for questioning."
Last week he says he received two threatening phone calls from a male voice saying: "You're forgetting what happened to your wife. Our intention was to kill you."Last week he says he received two threatening phone calls from a male voice saying: "You're forgetting what happened to your wife. Our intention was to kill you."
"We're told things are changing," Mr Chiroto said. "The unity government is in place. But personally I find it very difficult to forgive people who are still boasting about it.""We're told things are changing," Mr Chiroto said. "The unity government is in place. But personally I find it very difficult to forgive people who are still boasting about it."
Our presence in Zimbabwe this week, is a welcome, constructive, and important first step Jon WilliamsBBC world news editor The Editors' blog Cautious optimism returns Send in your questions Our presence in Zimbabwe this week, is a welcome, constructive, and important first step Jon WilliamsBBC world news editor The Editors' blog Cautious optimism returns Send in your questions class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6818">Send us your comments
Another MDC activist, Josphat Chidindi, was attacked with an axe on 25 June this year by two men who, he says, were the same Zanu-PF militants who had nearly killed him a year earlier.Another MDC activist, Josphat Chidindi, was attacked with an axe on 25 June this year by two men who, he says, were the same Zanu-PF militants who had nearly killed him a year earlier.
His right arm was nearly severed and remains heavily bandaged.His right arm was nearly severed and remains heavily bandaged.
"They wanted to silence me at all costs," he said, dismissing talk of reconciliation in Zimbabwe as "nonsense"."They wanted to silence me at all costs," he said, dismissing talk of reconciliation in Zimbabwe as "nonsense".
"I want these men to face trial, but I don't think justice will be done as long as Zanu-PF is part of this inclusive government… There is no future to talk about," he said."I want these men to face trial, but I don't think justice will be done as long as Zanu-PF is part of this inclusive government… There is no future to talk about," he said.
Many human rights activists also appear to be sceptical about ONHRI's work.Many human rights activists also appear to be sceptical about ONHRI's work.
Maria Mache, from the Crisis Coalition, dismissed it as "a farce".Maria Mache, from the Crisis Coalition, dismissed it as "a farce".
"We want the perpetrators of violence, those who abducted others, who did so many atrocities in Zimbabwe to be brought to book. We can't talk about reconciliation until there has been transitional justice," she said."We want the perpetrators of violence, those who abducted others, who did so many atrocities in Zimbabwe to be brought to book. We can't talk about reconciliation until there has been transitional justice," she said.