|
Back to Index
Disruption of public hearings will not deter people's resolve for
a genuinely independent Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC)
Centre
for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
July 27, 2011
The disruption
of Parliamentary public hearings to seek people's views on
the recently gazetted Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) Bill vindicates our view that
ZANU PF is not at all interested in genuine democratic reforms and
the full implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA). The Centre for Community Development
In Zimbabwe (CCDZ) strongly condemns the behaviour of the misguided
political activists who descended on legislators and journalists
during the public hearings.
Our investigations
show that some of these rowdy elements are the same people who were
bused to disrupt COPAC public hearings on the new constitution in
Harare late last year. These same people continue to act with impunity
because they know that they have protection from the highest political
offices. The violence perpetrated against parliamentarians was planned
and systematic. Much to our shock, horror and gravy concern, the
Zimbabwe Republic Police did not take appropriate action against
these rowdy elements who were chanting ZANU PF slogans and singing
the so-called revolutionary songs. Police only intervened in Harare
when Members of Parliament and journalists were assaulted.
Notwithstanding
these acts of lawlessness and intimidation, CCDZ reiterates its
position regarding the establishment of the Zimbabwe National Human
Rights Commission. Regarding the establishment of the ZHRC, CCDZ
continues to demand that:
- The Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission must be truly independent, impartial and
answerable to Parliament
and not the Executive.
- The ZHRC
Commissioners must be appointed by the Head of State from names
debated and agreed to in Parliament.
- The ZHRC
Commissioners must enjoy security of tenure.
- The Commission's
mandate must be broad to allow proper discharge of its duties
including protection and promotion of human rights for all.
- The Commission
must have quasi-judicial powers to investigate human rights atrocities
and recommend prosecution including investigating the Gukurahundi
massacres and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- The finances
of ZHRC be set and determined by Parliament.
- Political
activists must not be allowed to serve in the commission in any
capacity or conduct any of the commission's work.
The establishment
of the National Human Rights Commission and all other national commissions
like the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the Media Commission and
the Anti-Corruption Commission must be enshrined in the new constitution.
It is important to give these institutions the protection of the
law and protect them from the whims of politicians.
Visit the Centre
for Community Development fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
