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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has set its budget priorities for 2023 that are geared towards having peaceful harmonised elections.

This was said by Commissioner Josephine Shambare during a workshop held by the NPRC and legislators drawn from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security.

“The Commission is in the process of crafting the 2023 budget and we have identified four budget priorities,” she said.

Comm Shambare said the priority areas were on conflict prevention, capacitate provincial peace committees, publicity and increased visibility and capacitation of regional offices.

She added that there was need to invest more in conflict prevention through increased visibility of the Commission’s activities in communities.

Another Commissioner, Dr Golden Chekenyere said they were also engaging local corporates to fund their activities.

“We are targeting local corporates for funding as we go towards 2023,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Cde Misheck Mataranyika said peace was a prerequisite economic development.

He welcomed their interaction with the NPRC and said legislators they would push its agenda in the House to ensure it achieve its constitutional mandate.

“The purpose of the meeting was to empower parliamentarian so that we can be Peace Champions and be able to push motions in the House that promotes peace and healing,” he said.

The NPRC has several mandates that include crafting programmes that promote post-conflict healing and reconciliation, early detection of possible conflict and conflict prevention programmes.