Harare — THE Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration's proposed all-stakeholders conference initially pencilled for next month has been pushed to early 2010 as it emerged that most of its programmes were running behind schedule owing to lack of funding.

Speaking at a Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa-organised conference in Mutare on Monday, Special Advisor for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, Mr Gibson Sibanda, said it was his hope that the programmes would be finalised soon.

"We have been incapacitated by lack of financial resources. We wanted to have finished the provincial outreach by July but as we speak, we have just finished with Mashonaland West only."

According to Mr Sibanda, the initial agenda was to carry out outreach programmes targeting traditional leaders, faith-based leaders and civic organisations.

"We want to hear their views on the national healing process. After that, we are going to bring the information to civic society and other interested groups before convening a workshop of experts.

"These experts will refine the information and come up with a document.

"If we had sufficient resources, our plan was to have the all-stakeholders conference on national healing, reconciliation and integration in November this year. "

The conference is going to debate the document by the experts and the outcome will then be presented to Parliament for ratification.

"Now after Parliament's approval, everything on national healing and reconciliation will be implemented based on this document.

"However, due to financial constraints, we are yet to go to the districts and I am sure we are going to have the conference maybe early next year," he said.

"The process must be Zimbabwean. It must be an inclusive participatory and consultative approach.

"It must strike a pragmatic balance between addressing the needs of the victims and preventing the recurrence of abuses in the future by dealing with the perpetrators.

"There must be a special focus on the youths with special programmes for them."

Some of the delegates attending the conference include Retired General Emmanuel Erskine from Ghana, who is CPIA board member.

Rtd Gen Erskine is stepping down as executive chairman of CPIA and is being replaced by Dr Leonard Kapungu, who has been the executive director of CPIA.

Other foreign dignitaries present are Reverend Timothy Njoya of Kenya and Professor Ken Attafuah from Ghana.

Presenting civic society's views, National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations representative, Mr John Chiteketeku, said there was need for a co-ordinated approach to national healing.

He said the process was not meant to hunt for the perpetrators of alleged violence, as this would create more problems for the country.

Pastor Elias Musakwa said there was also need for the national healing process to address the challenges that were arising in church organisations.

The Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation has been tasked by the inclusive Government to develop an integration framework.

The conference was also attended by representatives of political parties, civic society as well as African and Western diplomats.