The Genesis of Violence in Zimbabwe is a book sponsored by The Center for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA), a Regional non-govermental organization based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe, a country in Southern Africa has been a scene of several levels of violence since 1879.This vilonce has reached alarming levels that are unacceptable . The violence has tended to escalate as the country approaches elections. Zimbabwe will hold elections in March 2013 and it is hoped that they could be held peacefully.But in order for peaceful elections to be held there is need to understand and discover the possible causes of such violent tendencies that have left a trail of murder, mayhem and gaping emotional wounds. The objective of this book is to assist this process and try to find a way forward through instilling and affirming national reconciliation among all the people of Zimbabwe, regardless of ethinicity, color or creed. The CPIA requested Father Fidelis Mukonori, a Jesuit priest who has assisted Zimbabwe in national reconciliation, to write this book.He has covered three periods in the history of the country, the period between 1879 and 1890, then continuing from 1893 to 1897 and to the Second Republic,2009. The book discusses ways and means of moving Zimbabwe from a culture of violence to a culture of peace as well as to promote and optimize dialogue so as to achieve and consolidate sustainable peace, stability and security in Zimbabwe.Father Mukonori concludes that reconciliation could only be possible in Zimbabwe if what happened in the past is told honestly and truthfully without fear or favour. The material in the book is handled with candor, sensitivity and simplicity. Not only are the events explained in their historical, economic and social contexts, they also include poignant cameos, anecdotes from the author's grandmother and his own personal encounters with violence or potentially violent situation as a young man growing up in Southern Rhodesia and as an adult in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe . This is the book to read as Zimbabwe approaches these elections and work out a new dispensation.Zimbabwe is so central to the future of Southern Africa and what happens in it will affect the future of the region. This book is also to be used as a tool in the process of preventing political economic and social conflicts.The Genesis of Violence in Zimbabwe will be followed by a publication of a book on THE PROCESS OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN GHANA: LESSONS FOR ZIMBABWE which is being written by a Ghanaian eminent person General Emmanuel Ersk
About the Author: Father Fidelis Mukonori S.J was born on 15 July 1947. He attended Chiwasha Mission in Zimbabwe. He holds a Master's of Theology degree from Berkeley California, USA. (1977). He also holds a Diploma in Social Development (Canada), Diploma in Philosophy (Zimbabwe) and an Advanced Certificate in Conflict Resolution ( RSA ). Father Mukonori has vast experince in productive mixed farming, mass communication and election observation. He has been a member of the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace since 1974.He worked with Silvera House for 26 years as Youth Coordinator, Youth Director, Leadership and Civics Trainer and Internal Auditor. In 1979 Father Mukonori assisted at the Lancaster House Conference from the background. He was a member of the African Development Committee (ADC/CAD ), which was linked to and sponsored by the European Economic Community 1980-1990 ). He was one of the Constitutional Commissioners who drafted Zimbabwe's proposed new Constitution. Father Mukonori served as Provincial of the Jesuits in Zimbabwe for 11 years. He is currently a Priest for Chiwasha Parish and Principal of Chishawasha Primary Boarding School. He is also a delegate for Chishawasha Estate to the Jesuit Provincial.In September 2012 Father Mukonori was appointed Executive Director of the Center for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) after serving for 12 years as a member of CPIA's Advisory Group of Eminent Persons