Zimbabwe: Towards a Comprehensive Peace Infrastructure
Donwell Dube, David Makwerere

Abstract
Zimbabwe has experienced a number of conflicts since the attainment of independence in 1980. Various conflict resolution mechanisms were put in place to resolve the conflicts which included the Gukurahundi atrocities of the early 1980s and the 2008 election conflicts. Although the conflict resolution mechanisms had limited success they lacked a comprehensive and inclusive approach. Using Lederach’s Holistic Peacebuilding approach the paper explores the need for the establishment of a comprehensive peace infrastructure in Zimbabwe. The creation of an infrastructure for peace will provide a platform for cooperation among stakeholders to bring peace to a country where conflict fault-lines are present at all levels of society. The argument is in line with African Union and United Nations Resolutions which call for African countries to establish national frameworks for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. The major argument of the paper is that without a comprehensive peace infrastructure which has at its core in Local Peace Committees Zimbabwe will find it difficult to move from a state of peacelessness to one characterized by positive peace.

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