Center for Peace Initiatives Africa

General Emmanuel Erskine
GERDC was officially opened on September 7, 2001 by General Emmanuel Erskine of Ghana. General Erskine is one of the most active and committed people in the work for peace in Africa. He has served as a leader in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and as an Advisor of the former O.A.U as well as ECOWAS. As a result of his dedication, the Research and Documentation Centre is named in his honor.

Location
GERDC is located at the Brackenridge Resort in Bvumba, Eastern Districts of Zimbabwe, and thirty-three kilometers from Mutare, Zimbabwe. Its location endows GERDC with a serene and scenic environment that encourages serious research and discussion. GERDC is located within the Brackenridge Resort which provides to its researchers and guests.

Mission
To provide quality and up to date information and services to researchers wishing to contribute to the goal of achieving sustainable peace in Zimbabwe, Africa and the World as a whole.

Vision
A continent in which conflicts are managed in a peaceful manner and resolved in the interest of Africas present and future generations is the vision of GERDC.

The Uniqueness of GERDC
GERDC holds a wealth of information on peacekeeping and conflict prevention, resolution and management. Documents from the UN, AU and its sub-regional bodies as well as individuals involved in peacekeeping and peace making in their original form are housed in GERDC.

Unique to GERDC is the wealth of materials on conflict prevention collected from a number of African countries detailing methods of settlement of their conflicts and the development of partnerships in resolving conflicts are depicted in documentation, video and pictorial forms. Very vital to peace and security Scholars is the information contained in GERDC which provides Lessons-Learned in Africas history and political developments, as a result GERDC has become a Training Centre for young people to provide them with the tools for conflict management.

Programmes/Services
GERDC provides materials and resources for users wishing to contribute to the goal of achieving sustainable peace. Currently, GERDC is engaged in the following:

	Provides Researchers, Practitioners and Scholars with information on Peace and Security
	Training young men and women in Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution
	Develops and provides services to researchers with special needs.
	Hosts the Annual Lecture Series on Peace and Security
	Use media and other public relations mechanisms to promote the full range of available services
	GERDC is currently running an Internship progamme for scholars of Peace and Security, Library Studies/Science and Researchers
	Provides services to school children, through pictorial displays and videos on conflicts and the process of settling them. GERDC New Building

GERDC, with the assistance of the Royal Government of Norway has constructed a unique building in Vumba. The new building, which was officially opened on 19 January 2008, houses a unique collection.

Supportive Technological Infrastructure Development at GERDC

GERDC/CPIA moved towards the digitalisation and automation of the research and documentation centre through the Green stone software. The digitalisation of GERDC has brought about a change in paradigm in terms of operations as GERDC. A number of activities, in this regard, have already been undertaken: Installation of V.sat Broadband Internet System, GERDC website, Digital Library, Sustainability of GERDC, Information Delivery System.

GERDC, through Green stone is able to host other organisations' databases. It has so far identified organisations such as World Intellectual Property Organisation, University of Peace Publication (Ethiopia), European Commission.

GERDC Associates
GERDC is proudly associated with international organisations like:
UPPSALA University
Nordic Africa Institute (NAI)

General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Docummentation Centre
P.O Box 3344, Mutare
Zimbabwe
info@gerdc.com
Tel: +263-20-67728

www.gerdc.com

GENERAL EMMANUEL ERSKINE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTRE

COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION CENTRE WITH A WEALTH OF UNIQUE INFORMATION ON PEACE AND SECURITY

Call for Participants: CPIA Leadership Training for Middle-Level Professionals 2010
::08/07/2010::
The training will be held from 7- 10 September 2010, General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Documentation Centre (GERDC), Vumba, Mutare, Zimbabwe. For more details call Rena Chitombo on: 263 913 552 504/263 712 751 016 or Email: chitombo @cpia.org.zw/rchitombo@yahoo.com. Deadline for registration: 1 September 2010.

CPIA Holds Mediation and Dialogue Workshop in Manicaland, 5 July 2010
::06/07/2010::
The Workshop was held at Mapare Resort in Birchenough Bridge. The purpose of the meeting was to identify common sources of conflicts in the province and to make recommendations on how these conflicts could be resolved and prevented. The meeting was attended by Traditional Leaders, Members of Parliament, Church Leaders, Youth and Women.

CPIA Statement on the Publication of its Second Edition on the Restructuring and Reform of the RBZ
::15/06/2010::
The Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) has done it once again, always keeping its hand on the pulse of the Zimbabwe Nation. Aware that there is an immediate issues that confront our Nation, that of Economic Recovery, CPIA is publishing the second edition of its book on The Restructuring and Reform of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe by its Eminent Person, Dr. Leonard Tsumba.

CPIA Chairman Addresses SADC RPTC Civilian Mission Course
::11/06/2010::
The CPIA Chairman, Dr. Leonard Kapungu, addressed the SADC Regional Training Centre Civilian Mission Course on the Role of NGOs in Peace Support Operations in Harare on 31 May 2010

CPIA Eminent Person Launches Autobiography
::26/03/2010::
Prof. Phinias Makhurane, a member of the CPIA Advisory Group of Eminent Persons, recently launched an autobiography.

CPIA Receives Donations to the Early Warning System
::18/03/2010::
On 17 March 2010, CPIA received donations in support of the recently launched Early Warning System on the prevention of Political Violence.

CPIA Executive Chairman Meets with SADC PF Secretary-General
::13/03/2010::
Dr. Leonard T. Kapungu, CPIA Executive Chairman met with Dr. Esau Chiviya, SADC PF Secretary General on 12 March 2010 in Harare.

CPIA Launches Early Warning System on the Prevention of Political Violence
::11/03/2010::
The CPIA Early Warning System on the Prevention of Political Violence was launced on 11 March 2010.

CPIA Launches Satellite Office in Mutare
::08/03/2010::
In support of the General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Documentation Centre (GERDC), CPIA has opened a Satellite Office in Mutare.

CPIA's Presentation on Early Warning System on the Prevention of Political Violence
::08/03/2010::
CPIA will present its Early Warning System on the Prevention of Political Violence on 11 March 2010 in Harare.

CPIA Statement on Political Violence in Epworth
::05/03/2010::
CPIA is deeply concerned with the political violence in Epworth (edge of Harare).

High Level Seminar on Future Elections and Conflict Prevention: The Way Forward, Nyanga, 16-18 February 2010
::11/02/2010::
The all inclusive government has embarked on a vital process to develop a new constitution as a way to achieve sustainable democracy in the country.

CPIA STATEMENT ON THE CONSTITUTION-MAKING AND HEALING PROCESSES
::01/02/2010::
CPIA welcomes the start of the national consultation on the constitution.

CPIA holds Consultative meeting of Eminent Persons and Provincial Coordinators, Harare, 1 February 2010
::27/01/2010::
The meeting discussed, among other processes, field situation regarding the Constitution-making process.

2010 AFRICA'S YEAR: THIS IS OUR MOMENT, is CPIA's theme for 2010.
::27/01/2010::
CPIA's 2010 activities will include a Regional High Level Seminar on Elections and Conflict Prevention.

CPIA Honours Justice Washington Sansole
::18/12/2009::
On 16 December 2009 CPIA officially opened the Justice Washington Sansole Chamber of Justice at the General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Documentation Centre (GERDC),Vumba, in honour of the late Justice Washington Sansole, a former High Court Judge who died on 8 June 2009.

CPIA Holds Meeting of the Advisory Group Of Church Leaders
::03/12/2009::
The meeting was held on 10 December 2009 in Harare

CPIA Holds Regional Youth Conference: Model United Nations
::09/11/2009::
The Conference was held from 2-6 November 2009 in Mutare

CPIA Participates at the SADC Standby Force After Action Review Workshop, 11-14 October 2009
::13/10/2009::
The Workshop was held at the SADC RPTC in Harare, Zimbabwe.

CPIA Leadership Training: 05-10 October 2009
::30/09/2009::
The Leadership training was held in Mutare.

CPIA Plays Significant Role at the SADC Exercise Golfinho
::30/09/2009::
The CPIA Executive Director, Dr. Leonard T. Kapungu, participated at the SADC Exercise Golfinho held in South Africa from 1 25 September 2009

CPIA Participates at the SADC Council of NGOs Forum and SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, Kinshasa, DRC
::30/09/2009::
These events took place from 2 10 September 2009

CPIA HIGH LEVEL CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL HEALING, 11-14 0CTOBER 2009
::13/08/2009::
CPIA held a High Level Conference on National Healing in Vumba.

CPIA 2009 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE COMMEMORATIONS
::13/08/2009::
On Saturday 19 September 2009 CPIA commemorated the International Day of Peace, Cease-Fire and Non-Violence in Marondera

CPIA LAUNCHES BOOK ON RESTRUCTURING AND REFORM OF THE RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE: TOWARDS GOOD GOVERNANCE.
::21/07/2009::
On 3 August 2009, CPIA launched a book on Restructuring and Reform of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe: Towards Good Governance in Harare.

CPIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADRESSES SADC-CNGO MEETING
::21/07/2009::
On 7 August 2009, the CPIA Executive Director, Dr. Leonard T. Kapungu adressed the SADC Council of NGOS' meeting on Regional Mediation vs Communal negotiations in South Africa.