International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 2 No. 18; October 2012 297 Zimbabwe: Towards a Comprehensive Peace Infrastructure Donwell Dube Lecturer in Peace and Leadership Lupane State University Box AC 255, Ascot, Bulawayo Zimbabwe David Makwerere Lecturer in Peace and Governance Bindura University of Science Education Bag 1020, Bindura Zimbabwe 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. Key words: Peace, Conflict Prevention, Resolution, Transformation, Peace Infrastructure, Local Peace Committees Introduction Years of violent conflict have left a mark on the people of Zimbabwe. The country has experienced a number of conflicts since attaining independence in 1980. These conflicts include the Gukurahundi, Operation Murambatsvina and election violence. Conflicts have left the country socially and politically divided. Zimbabwe has to deal with victims of conflict who include internally displaced people (IDPs), the widowed, orphaned, maimed and traumatized. Efforts have been made to deal with these issues but what seems to be lacking is a comprehensive peace infrastructure that can take a holistic approach to peacebuilding. Dress (2005) argues that security and peacebuilding issues should not be a sole preserve of governments. He calls for a strong horizontal and vertical synergy between peacebuilding structures and a creation of a formal structural relationship. The establishment of a government of national unity (GNU) opened new opportunities for peacebuilding in Zimbabwe. The establishment of the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) provided a window of opportunity for the creation of a comprehensive peace infrastructure although it would appear the organ has remained purely political in its approach. There is a growing interest in building Infrastructures for Peace in many countries which include the setting up of Local Peace Councils (LPCs). A number of countries have established Ministries dealing with peace issues. Tongeren (2011) argues that countries at risk of instability and civil war need mechanisms for cooperation amongst all relevant stakeholders in peacebuilding.