Establishing a Ministry of Peace in Zambia.

Abstract

Zambia faces extensive conflict and violence of both direct and structural types. The qualitative and quantitative indices provided by the Global Peace Index (GPI), the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Gender Disparity Index (GDI) confirm that Zambia needs a control shift permeated with tools of peacefulness that will move the country from a culture of violence to a culture of peace and non-violence. The focus of the dissertation is one way of trying to build sustainable peace in the world and in particular Zambia by creating structures within government circles, specifically by establishing a Ministry of Peace that will work to transcend violent conflicts while working alongside a Peace Education Commission (PEC), Peace Research Commission (PRC) and an independent Conflict Resolution and Mediation Commission (CRMC). The aim of such a ministry is to help change the mindset of the people of Zambia from a culture of violence towards to a culture of peace and non-violence. The dissertation discusses possible objections to a Ministry of Peace and proposes a strategic plan for establishing a Ministry of Peace in Zambia. Two focus groups were selected to provide a very small sample of Zambians the opportunity to comment on the idea of establishing a Ministry of Peace in Zambia.