‘The reintegrating role that can be played by a traditional conflict resolving mechanism in the eastern Hararghe zone of Oromiya regional state, Ethiopia’ presents qualitative data on the reintegrating role that can be played by a traditional conflict-resolving mechanism in the eastern Hararghe zone of Oromiya regional state. In ‘Exploring Gumaa as an indispensable psycho-social method of conflict resolution and justice administration’ Oromo as a society is rich in indigenous institutions of conflict resolution and justice administration. Gumaa is one of the multitude of Oromo indigenous institutions that has exclusively been used to settle blood feuds of various types. With an aim of helping to fill this gap and of maximising gumaa’s potential contributions to conflict resolution, justice administration and peacebuilding, this article offers a psycho-social perspective on gumaa. In ‘Complex conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Good governance a prerequisite of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) peacebuilding’ ethical business initiatives have peacebuilding potential; however, the discussion should cede that poor governance constrains this private sector ability. ‘Reconciliation, conciliation, integration and national healing: Possibilities and challenges in Zimbabwe’ interrogate the need for reconciliation, social integration and national healing in Zimbabwe as well as the challenges and possibilities. The paper traces the earlier attempts at reconciliation in Zimbabwe, the successes and the challenges and what led to the present situation of extreme polarisation in Zimbabwean society. ‘Voting and violence in KwaZulu-Natal’s no-go areas: Coercive mobilisation and territorial control in post-conflict elections’ finds that in the first decade after South Africa’s miraculous transition, these spatial structures of violence and control persisted at local levels. Violent forms of mobilisation and territorial control thus seem to be able to survive even a successful transition to democracy by many years. The periodical ends with a book review on ‘Polarization and transformation in Zimbabwe: Social movements, strategy dilemmas and change’ which attempts to illustrate how social movements and civic organisations face significant strategy dilemmas which can hamper their effectiveness and prevent such organisations from contributing to transformative peace and change.
