Civil society and peacebuilding during Zimbabwe's government of national unity, 2009-2013

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Periodical article

Title:	Civil society and peacebuilding during Zimbabwe's government of national unity, 2009-2013
Author:	Ncube, Cornelias
Year:	2014
Periodical:	African Security Review (ISSN 2154-0128)
Volume:	23
Issue:	3
Pages:	283-294
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zimbabwe
Subjects:	civil society peacebuilding conflict resolution
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2014.930056
Abstract:	This paper employs functionalist, transformative and peacebuilding approaches to explore the role played by civil society in peacebuilding during Zimbabwe's coalition government (2009-2013), under the Church and Civil Society Forum (CCSF). Through the functions of democratisation, socialisation and the rebuilding of communities, the various bottom-up peacebuilding initiatives under the CCSF framework rebuilt broken relationships, provided spaces of encounter between victims and perpetrators, and bridged the paradoxical values of mercy, justice, truth and peace in a context of deep political polarisation. Although the various peacebuilding activities were scattered and sporadic, they do provide a basis for nationwide replication under a ZANU-PF dominated government. The new 2013 constitution provides institutional opportunities for the formulation of a broader national framework for peacebuilding that synergises these efforts by civil society and a politically willing state. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]