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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Inclusive government - Index of articles
Harassment
of the General Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe
(GAPWUZ)
Research
and Advocacy Unit
February 24, 2010
The Research
and Advocacy Unit [RAU] wishes to protest in the strongest possible
terms the harassment of our partner, GAPWUZ,
and to draw attention to the interference of the Joint Operations
Command [JOC] in civilian affairs.
On Friday, 19
February 2010, the General-Secretary of GAPWUZ, Mrs Gertrude Hambira,
and members of her staff were summoned to Police General Headquarters.
The focus of the meeting, which was threatening and intimidatory,
revolved around complaints by delegates of JOC about a documentary,
The House of Justice, and the accompanying report, If Something
is Wrong. Both the film and the report were produced by RAU at the
request of GAPWUZ. RAU stands by both of these, based as they both
are on careful research and detailed interviews. Every assertion
in both the film and the report can be fully substantiated as accurate.
The film and the report were publicly launched in November 2009
under auspices of the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions [ZCTU]. The film and the report have
hence been part of the public domain since November 2009, and copies
of both were provided to all relevant government ministries.
Apart from the
unjustified, unwarranted and unlawful treatment of the General-Secretary
and GAPWUZ, RAU also wishes to point out that these actions are
wholly contrary to the Global
Political Agreement [GPA], and Zimbabwe's Constitution. A pre-condition
for the return to normal democratic life in Zimbabwe was the clear
demonstration that the security forces would be brought under civilian
control.
This is strongly implied
in Article XIII (State Organs and Institutions) of the GPA, and
Section
13.2(c) quite unequivocally states that laws and regulations governing
state organs and institutions are strictly adhered to and those
violating them be penalised without fear or favour.
Furthermore,
Section 22.5 states that, the new Government shall ensure that steps
are taken to make the security forces conversant with the Constitution
of Zimbabwe and other laws of Zimbabwe including laws relating
to public order and security.
This is given
effect in Constitutional
Amendment 19, in Section 10, dealing with the setting up of
a National Security Council. Here it was stated that, without delay,
the Inclusive Government shall set up a National Security Council
responsible for overseeing and directing the operations and activities
of the Defence Forces, the Police Force and any intelligence service
of the Government, whether that service falls within or outside
the Defence Forces or the Police Force.
This was finally
formalised in Zimbabwe law by Act of Parliament on 9 February 2010
with the passing of the National
Security Council Act. The continued operation of JOC and interference
by military personnel in civilian issues beyond their jurisdiction,
manifested in the harassment and intimidation of Ms Hambira, is
unacceptable and more a hallmark of military rule rather than the
democratic governance and rule of law to which the GPA and most
Zimbabwean aspire.
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