Zimbabwe: Commentary calls on ZANU-PF to demobilize, disarm youth militia.

Text of report by privately-owned Zimbabwean weekly Financial Gazette website on 7 August

[Commentary by Bornwell Chakaodza: "Essential Steps To National Healing"]

The flavour of the moment has to be national healing and reconciliation initiative launched last week.

In an extraordinary Government Gazette three weeks ago, President Robert Mugabe proclaimed three days, 24, 25 and 26 July as National Peace days during which all Zimbabweans at home and abroad were expected to "renounce and report all forms of political violence, in an effort to restore peace and stability in the country".

Since the establishment of the inclusive government in February which brought together hitherto sworn enemies, ZANU-PF [Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front] on one hand and the two formations of the MDC [Movement for Democratic Change] on the other, debate has raged on about the need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to revisit some of the atrocities committed in the name of inter-party politics over the past three decades.

Those advocating the TRC approach are convinced that only after victims of political violence acknowledge that restorative measures have been taken against perpetrators of violence who should own up to their culpability …