A transitional justice model for Zimbabwe

LL.M. (International Commercial Law)Abstract: Zimbabwe is in a quagmire. The time for regional and international complacency has passed and it is now in the hands of ordinary masses with a coalition of the wiling regional and international allies to usher in true social, economic and political recovery in Zimbabwe. The nation is replete with past and current human rights violations. The consequence of this state of affairs is a society traumatized by fear, withdrawal and collective depression based on past memories of violence, intimidation and harassment. The skeletons must be unearthed in the interest of accountability and nation building. Even though Zimbabwe has not gone through any real political transition, it is still possible to devise a way of achieving restorative justice. There are many countries to learn from while devising a transitional justice model for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe must devise a form of transitional justice which will not only look backward- punishing, remembering, discovering the truth, telling the stories- but will also look forward, restoring the rule of law and creating new institutions and new attitudes which will protect from abuse of power and impunity in future