FORGIVENESS
AFTER TRUTH: THE KEY TO NATIONAL HEALING AND RECONCILIATION
A SPECIAL APPEAL TO THE CITIZENS OF ZAMBIA
By Prof. Edgar Ng’oma – Philosopher and Distinguished Good Governance Fellow.
Wednesday 11 November 2026
MY FELLOW ZAMBIANS,
There comes a time when a nation must choose between remaining a prisoner of its painful past and building a peaceful future.
As I continue advocating for the establishment of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Zambia, I wish to address one important question:
AFTER THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TOLD, WHY MUST WE FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER?
Truth reveals what happened. Justice establishes responsibility. Forgiveness releases bitterness, while reconciliation rebuilds broken relationships.
A nation cannot genuinely reconcile while its citizens continue carrying hatred, resentment and the desire for revenge.
Forgiveness does not mean forgetting the past, excusing wrongdoing or abandoning justice. It means refusing to allow yesterday’s injuries to destroy tomorrow’s peace.
THE SEVEN KINDS OF FORGIVENESS
- PERSONAL FORGIVENESS: Releasing resentment towards someone who has personally wronged us.
- INTERPERSONAL FORGIVENESS: Healing broken relationships between friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues.
- SELF-FORGIVENESS: Acknowledging our own mistakes, accepting responsibility and allowing ourselves to change.
- POLITICAL FORGIVENESS: Moving beyond political hatred, persecution and revenge while respecting justice and accountability.
- COMMUNITY FORGIVENESS: Healing divisions between tribes, regions, religious groups and communities.
- INSTITUTIONAL FORGIVENESS: Addressing wrongs committed by institutions through acknowledgment, accountability, appropriate remedies and reform.
- NATIONAL FORGIVENESS: Creating conditions for citizens to overcome historical divisions and build a peaceful future together.
🇿🇲 WHY MUST ZAMBIA FORGIVE?
My fellow citizens, political leaders come and go. Governments change, but Zambia remains our common home.
We must never allow our children to inherit the hatred, political bitterness and unresolved grievances of previous generations.
However, forgiveness must never be forced upon victims, and reconciliation must never become an excuse for impunity.
Those who have suffered deserve truth, justice and dignity. Those who have committed wrongs must be encouraged to acknowledge them and make amends.
MY FINAL APPEAL TO THE NATION
To our political leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders and every citizen of Zambia:
Let us tell the truth without fear, seek justice without revenge, forgive without forgetting and reconcile without discrimination.
Remember, we cannot change yesterday, but through forgiveness and reconciliation, we can change the future of our beloved Mother Zambia.
Let us heal our nation, not divide it further.
TRUTH MUST BE TOLD!
JUSTICE MUST BE DONE!
FORGIVENESS MUST BE ENCOURAGED!
RECONCILIATION MUST FOLLOW!
🇿🇲 ONE ZAMBIA, ONE NATION!
PROF. EDGAR NG’OMA
Philosopher and Distinguished Good Governance Fellow.
Proposer and Campaigner for the enactment of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act in Zambia.
11th November 2026
#TruthAndReconciliation #Forgiveness #HealingTheNation #OneZambiaOneNation #NationalUnity #PeaceAndJustice #Zambia
