by Own correspondent Friday 02 April 2010
HARARE - US-based media development organisation Internews Network plans to launch a project to use local media and civic networks to promote understanding of Zimbabwe's national healing and reconciliation agenda.
Internews said this week that hopes to develop a relationship with civil society organisations (CSOs) to help them utilise the media more effectively.
"This project will support nascent local media and peace-building CSOs to play their appropriate role using radio and video programmes to educate communities on justice and peace issues, and to give people in target violence-affected areas the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss future aspirations for justice and reconciliation," it said.
Internews also announced it was recruiting a country director to oversee implementation of the project.
The director would be expected to organise mobile audio and video community events as well community media peace forums, among other activities.
Zimbabwe's national healing process has been dogged by problems and is viewed by most people as an exercise in futility.
The failure by the unity government to come up with transitional justice mechanisms adds to the growing disappointment of victims who have lost faith in the organ of national healing set up under the terms of the global political agreement signed by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai 19 months ago. - ZimOnline