Before the institutionalisation of Rwanda’s gacaca courts, transitional justice was predominantly
viewed as a western concept which was more legal and punitive. This paper positions traditional transitional justice
mechanisms currently at work in Zimbabwe as viable concomitants in the field of justice, healing and reconciliation.
Through a case study of Gokwe District in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe the study discusses the various
grassroots mechanisms used in Zimbabwe to achieve restorative and dignified healing and reconciliation to both the
victim and the offender. The paper concluded that for transitional justice to achieve healing, closure, and
reconciliation; it requires bottom-up and victim centred mechanisms; familiar to both the victim and the offender.