The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is saddened to learn of the passing on of Rev Themba Siwela, yesterday, the 7th of May 2020 at Masvingo General Hospital. Rev Siwela was one of the two Deputy Chairpersons of the Masvingo Provincial Peace Committee to which position he was elected by members of the committee drawn from a cross section of stakeholders in the Province. That Rev Siwela was entrusted by the Committee to lead the peace building, mediation and dispute resolution processes in Masvingo Province speaks volumes about his commitment to ensuring a peaceful Zimbabwe for all generations.

The Provincial Peace Committee’s last contact with Rev Siwela was in March 2020 where he led his team in a capacity building program to sharpen skills for the prevention, management, resolution and transformation of conflicts as well as coordinate the Commission’s programs in the Province. Ever so humble and soft spoken, the Commission will miss his wisdom and faith filled approach to the work of peace building. Indeed, the Commission and the Masvingo Peace Committee are poorer without his wise counsel, fortitude and passion. We therefore mourn his loss, well aware of the sterling work that he did to build and lead the foundations upon which localised peace infrastructures in the country are grounded.

We extend our condolences to his wife, children, family, community, church and the Masvingo Provincial Peace Committee and we feel their loss at this difficult time. We are grateful to the family and church for allowing Rev Siwela to join the Provincial Peace Committee and to subsequently lead it and hope that they will find comfort in the contributions he made and the mark he left.

Go well Rev; go well peacemaker; go well man of God!

Peace begins with me; peace begins with you; peace begins with all of us.

Rtd Justice S.M. Nare

CHAIRPERSON
NATIONAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION