ABSTRACT
Democratisation is about creating an environment in which individuals are able to exercise their agency without fear or favour. The democratisation process is one of the key aspects of reconciliation. Definitions of reconciliation are based on various disciplines which include politics, law, theology, psychology and sociology. Truth-telling is one aspect of reconciliation processes that is acclaimed worldwide. Civil society movements have been calling for a reframing and widening of the understanding of reconciliation. The Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, whose leaders include the war veteran and now Member of Parliament Joseph Chinotimba, the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union and a religio-political movement called Destiny for Africa Network. The chapter explains the Arguments raised against reconciliation in post-conflict situations assume that it suppresses or stifles justice, particularly retributive justice. Liberals argue that the concept of reconciliation runs against one of the oldest tenets of liberalism, that crimes must be punished. The concept of a citizen is important for deliberative democracy.
