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Statement
by the Government of Zimbabwe during the public session of the ACHPR
Government
of Zimbabwe
May 11, 2006
Salutations
Madam Chair, the 39th Session of this Commission
takes place at a time when there have been a number of developments
on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. These developments have
taken place despite the enormous challenges the Government of Zimbabwe
and her people are facing in the realization of their rights as
a nation due to illegal sanctions, which some Western nations have
imposed on the country since 2002. Following these sanctions the
World Bank and IMF are refusing to release balance of payments support
to the country, and as a result Zimbabwe is one of the few countries
whose budget is financed wholly by its own resources.
These
sanctions have constrained the capacity of the Government to effectively
deliver her mandate but it remains committed to the realization
of these goals.
Some
of the developments that have taken place in the human rights discourse
is as follows:
Establishment
of National Human Rights Commission
Aware of the need to strengthen the rule of law and promote
and protect human rights, in March this year, the Government of
Zimbabwe decided to set up a National Human Rights Commission. In
the process of setting up the Commission the Government is giving
due consideration to international guidelines and principles on
such establishments, including the Paris Principles. The Government
of Zimbabwe wishes to bring it to the fore that the establishment
of this National Institution is an obligation vested upon the State.
Contributions by civic organizations will be sought in the process
of enacting the requisite legislation and the establishment of the
institution itself.
Judicial
reforms
The establishment of the Human Rights Commission is being pursued
not as an end in itself. The Commission will investigate allegations
of human rights violations, promote and protect human rights and
in the process compliment the role of the judiciary. In order to
enhance access to justice, more Magistrates Courts and Small Claims
Courts have been established countrywide. There has also been a
decentralization of the Labour Courts to the Provincial capitals.
Other measures taken in the justice delivery system include the
decongestion of the prisons through the establishment of more open
prisons, the pre-trial diversion, and the community service scheme.
Zimbabwe
acknowledges the role of cooperating partners in all these endeavors.
Fight
against corruption
Government has prioritized and intensified the fight against
corruption in all sectors of the economy. To this end, Zimbabwe
has ratified the UN and AU Conventions on Corruption as well as
the SADC Protocols on Mutual Legal Assistance. The newly established
Anti-Corruption Commission is in the process of recruiting operational
staff. In addition, measures are being taken to harmonize the legislation
in accordance with the Conventions on Corruption.
Right
to shelter
In the area of economic, social and cultural rights, Zimbabwe is
working towards the attainment of the right to shelter. Apart from
programmes being undertaken by Local Authorities in their own right,
one of the major programmes by Government aimed at improving housing
delivery is the Operation Garikai/ Better Life project. This nationwide
programme is being pursued in 10 Local Authorities, which have seen
3325 housing units being completed and allocated to beneficiaries
affected by Operation
Restore Order. These people were hitherto living in squalid
conditions. Other housing units under the same scheme are at various
levels of completion and will be distributed to the remaining lot
of the affected persons. Government acknowledges the shelter needs
of the people and is taking all measures to address the problem
with the assistance of cooperating partners.
Right
to health
There
are a number of challenges government is facing in the area of health
delivery. These include shortage of ARVs for persons suffering from
HIV/ AIDS. Despite those challenges, Government has put in place
various measures of guaranteeing access to and the availability
of ARVs to the affected people. Although the Global Fund has recently
been opened up to Zimbabwe, the funding that the country is receiving
is not adequate. Apart from receiving some limited financial assistance
from cooperating partners, Government has largely funded the health
delivery system from her own resources.
Right
to property
The
right to property and economic development by the majority of Zimbabweans
is being realized through the completed land redistribution exercise.
The Government is in the process of consolidating the programme
by guaranteeing security of tenure through the provision of 99-year
leases. To boost agricultural production the Government is providing
inputs and offering extension services to the farmers.
Submission
of state party reports
Zimbabwe is in the process of preparing her consolidated State
party report in terms of the Charter. Consultations with civic society
are currently underway. Zimbabwe hopes to submit the outstanding
report to the esteemed Commission at its next Session.
BANJUL,
11 May 2006
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