In 2010, Dorcus Zaninka, 41, was voted to the Mediators Committee (Abunzi) in absentia. The mother of four and a business woman serves on the 12-member committee of Abunzi in Kibaza cell, Kacyiru sector, Gasabo district. 

"During the second term of electing the new Abunzi committee in my village, I was nominated during the monthly community service (Umuganda) meeting. I had not gone to participate in the community service that day, but I was called on phone to confirm my nomination,” Zaninka says.

The jolly Zaninka also says that on reaching the meeting grounds which were held at the current police headquarters pitch in Kacyiru, the locals rallied behind her and she was voted Kibaza cell’s mediator.

"Although I was happy about being elected, I was more excited about the responsibility that my community had granted me, considering it is a position that is given to someone because they have a great personality and integrity. It’s not everyday that one is nominated and elected to promote peaceful ways of solving conflicts in their communities,” Zaninka says.

Zaninka was among the 12 members of Abunzi elected from eleven villages that make up Kibaza cell. Each committee serves for five years and members can be re-elected.

Although Zaninka’s term as mediator ends next year, she is happy that they have been able to solve several disputes in their village amicably. "It’s just a few cases where both parties have decided to go to court after failing to take on the solution we provide. I have seen how the peaceful conflict management in our community has reconciled and united families, business partners and friends. This is something I really want to be part of. If given another chance, I would allow to be re-elected on the Abunzi commitee for my village in the next term,” Zaninka says.

This week, the Ministry of Justice in Rwanda is celebrating the achievements of Abunzi over the last ten years under the theme Abunzi: Home grown solution for peaceful conflict management.

The word Abunzi can be loosely translated as ‘those who reconcile’. In the ancient times, Abunzi were men known within their communities for personal integrity and were asked to intervene in the event of conflict.

It’s the Gacaca courts that motivated the formation of mediation committees like Abunzi at the cell and sector level in districts so as to find ways of solving conflicts through dialogue.

The Abunzi committees were set up to provide community level arbitration for minor disputes.

According to Cecile Uwamahoro, committee mediator for the Iliba village in Kibaza cell, Abunzi provide an easier platform to obtain legal remedies for disputes and conflicts in communities.

"I’m not saying this because I’m a woman, but the inclusion of women on the committee of Abunzi, provided space for women to freely report and seek amicable solutions to conflicts related to gender inequality and abuse,” Uwamahoro explains.

She adds that the mediation committee is made up of 12 members and women make up the biggest number with only four men on the committee.

"We meet every Sunday afternoon to handle disputes amongst the conflicting parties. However at times it depends on the cases available. But four years ago we were handling more cases than we handle today,” Uwamahoro reveals.

The Organic Law N° 02/2010/OL of 09/06/2010 established the organisation, jurisdiction, competence and functioning of the mediation committee.

"During the mediation sessions the conflicting party is given a chance to choose a person of their choice, who they feel can handle their dispute. Then the committee selects one person, thus making it three people to discuss and find possible solutions to the conflict. The purpose of this system is to settle disputes and also to reconcile the conflicting parties and restore harmony,” Uwamahoro adds.

In regards to the assumption that the committee members can easily be corrupted in conflicts related to finances, Uwamahoro says: "That’s not possible. All the decisions and solutions are agreed upon by the 12 members of the committee when settling a dispute. Given that we all come from different villages, its hard to corrupt or influence the whole team’s judgment.”

The reintroduction of the Abunzi system in 2004 was motivated by the need to reduce the backlog of court cases, as well as to decentralise justice and make it more affordable and accessible for citizens seeking to resolve conflict without the cost of going to court.

What local leaders and women activists say about women’s role in Abunzi committeesAccording to Christine Tuyisenge, the Executive Secretary of the National Women Council (NWC), the quota system is respected when setting up the Abunzi committees countrywide.

"Women on the Abunzi committee constitute at least 30%. Based on the feedback we get about the cases handled, women have played a big role especially in handling issues of land conflict resolution. They have also handled family related issues plus disputes related to women in particular,” Tuyisenge explains.

The mediation committees are competent enough to examine cases based on civil offences. This committee is a voluntary/free service to the public.

"As a woman, I’m proud to see other women serving on such a committee. Its amazing how women are embracing their need to contribute to the welfare of our society, the fact that women can solve various conflicting issues amongst people creates a platform for recognition,” Tuyisenge explains.

The committee is not paid for their work in settling disputes but the cell or sector gets to pay medical insurance for five members of the family of anyone that sits on the Abunzi committee.

Patrick Ndaga, the Executive Secretary of Kibaza cell says the role of women in settling disputes is vital and dialogue has been able to help solve family disputes in communities.

"Women have played a very big role in solving family problems since they know details associated with family issues,” Ndaga says.

"The mindset and cultural barriers of the justice system being male dominated has changed in the Rwandan society. Based on the way disputes are solved, it shows how women that are on the Abunzi committee are trusted by the community. The women are confident and they address issues of both men and women with fairness,” Ndaga explains.

Ndaga adds that before women joined the Abunzi committee, women-related disputes were not well addressed.

"Today when women come and find fellow women on the committee they find it easier to talk about the disputes. Women have contributed a lot to conflict resolution by embracing the fact that they need to trust in themselves, which is a step towards joining the Abunzi committee,” Ndaga adds.

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