Officials have commended the role played by community mediators, locally known as Abunzi, in solving local disputes and finding common grounds for citizens, which they say has greatly impacted the socio-economic lives of the population.

The comments were made on Tuesday during the opening of a three-day conference on local mediation and the role of mediators in the community.

Held under the theme; "Abunzi, a solution to peaceful conflict resolution”, the conference brought together about 140 mediators from Rwanda (Abunzi), Burundi (Abashingantahe) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Customary Chiefs).

It is being organised by the Ministry of Justice under the support of Search for Common Ground, an international non-governmental organisation that specialises in conflict resolution.

The meeting is an occasion for community mediators in Rwanda, Burundi and DRC to share experiences, best practices and devise solutions to challenges facing them, according to Narcisse Kalisa, Search for Common Ground National coordinator.

The conference comes exactly ten years after mediation committees were formed to find peaceful solutions to disputes occurring within communities and reduce the numbers of residents who lodge complaints in formal courts.

Abunzi is a kind of community justice where members of the community, chosen for being people of integrity, mediate between conflicting parties to find a common ground without necessarily going to courts.

While opening the conference in Huye District, the Minister for Justice, Johnston Busingye, commended the mediators, saying their role in seeking peaceful solutions to local disputes is vital.

He said the mediation committees have their roots in the community’s belief into their capacity to find peaceful solutions to their problems.

Busingye said human beings naturally have differences but their capacity to solve them and the means used differ from one society to another.

"Rwanda has decided to revert to its cultural roots to find solutions to its problems,” Busingye said.

"Abunzi is one of the many successful home-grown solutions that Rwanda has embraced,” he adds.Currently, there are over 30, 000 mediators across the country who constitute cell and sector mediation committees, Busingye said.

"These people are making a difference in our society. They have helped to significantly reduce the number of people who lodge complaints in formal courts of law by settling their woes before they go to court.”

Between 2012 and 2014, mediators have settled over 90, 000 disputes, according to available figures.

"Apart from facilitating justice, the mediators have also played a key role in building a harmonious community by helping feuding individuals settle their differences peacefully,” Busingye added.

That, the minister said, has allowed families to dedicate their time to productive ventures instead of wasting time in courts of law.

"Today we are celebrating a decade of dedicated efforts and commitment to peaceful conflict resolution,” Busingye told the participants.

Denis Nzohabonimana, the executive secretary of Burundi’s mediators (Abashingantahe) council, told The New Times that he is proud of their role in solving disputes.

He said Abashingantahe have dedicated their efforts to solving disputes within the community.

"Our efforts have helped bring about social harmony and socio-economic transformation,” he said.

While some mediators have been blamed for malpractices, including bribery, Nzohabonimana said there were only a few cases.

"When you seek a bribe to settle a dispute, it means you lack integrity, honesty and moral soundness,” he said.