This newsletter discussed, among other, the research report that was published by CCMT toward the end of November 2016, which is entitled ‘Cultures in Conflict: Challenges of Marriage and Divorce under Zimbabwe’s Dual Legal System’. This publication is packaged together with a documentary of detailed interviews with relevant stakeholders and footage of the discussions that took place during the dialogue meetings. The report gives an account of the perspectives of the people of Chiwundura on Zimbabwe’s current legal system which combines the application of Roman Dutch Law and Zimbabwe’s Customary Law. The following discussion is on the Community Healing Manual for Zimbabwe which was launched. As a member of the Peace Building Network of Zimbabwe, as well as the secretariat, CCMT participated in a project facilitated by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) to write and compile an eight module publication entitled Community Healing: A training manual for Zimbabwe. Twelve organisations took part in three writing workshops, held in Harare over a period of two years. The manual will be used to build the capacity of local actors in the peace building field as well as standardize and strengthen community healing and reconciliation efforts in Zimbabwe. The following article is on the Community garden flourishing at Zhaugwe – The Zhaugwe community continues to make great strides towards community cohesion, developing themselves and improving their livelihoods. Following the intervention, a community which was once divided started forming groups to carry out various projects, for example, soap making, fishery and poultry. Most recently, 25 households mobilized themselves to set up a flourishing community garden. The following article discusses the Kushinga school update – For many years the Kushinga community, located in a resettlement area close to Gweru, could not agree on a site for their secondary school. The wrangles over the location of the school were at times violent and around 900 households were affected by the conflict. However, in 2015 following a sustained dialogue process there was a breakthrough and a school site was finally agreed upon by community members.
