adminFidelis Munyoro recently in KADOMA
Government has urged stakeholders involved in monitoring human rights in Zimbabwe to be nationalistic in the reports to be submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council next year.
Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabhiza told participants representing various sectors on the Universal Peer Review (UPR) steering committee on human rights at a seminar in Kadoma last week of the need to foster a shared vision.
The UPR is part of the United Nations mechanism where states engage in a review of progress made in promoting and protecting human rights.
“We are going to submit the report together as a country,” said Mrs Mabhiza.
“What I want to say to you is that let us be patriotic as we make our reports. Let us not forget that we have one thing in common, that we are all Zimbabweans.”
Mrs Mabhiza said it was imperative to portray Zimbabwe in good light and “not expose ourselves to unnecessary criticism”.
She said a lot of work had been done to achieve one common objective to enhance the country’s report.
A human rights lawyer, Mr Dzimbabwe Chimbgwa, whose interest is in the civil society organisations, commended Government efforts to implement 130 recommendations that were accepted in 2011. A total of 177 recommendations were made on various human rights issues, but Zimbabwe accepted only 130.
“The Government has actually made commitments and progress in other areas to ensure that the 130 recommendations that were accepted in 2011 are given effect to,” said Mr Chimbgwa.
“The fact that all these Government representatives were here and committed to push the process forward to ensure that human rights are respected in Zimbabwe is a good start.”
Mr Chimbgwa said that a lot still needed to be done.
“I notice there are several international instruments that need to be ratified like the convention against torture. Also there are a lot of laws that need to be aligned with the constitution,” he said.
Zimbabwe Media Commission representative, Mr Chris Mhike, said the reports presented at the workshop suggested that notable progress had been made in certain areas recommended. Representatives from Government, civil society, independent commissions, development partners and faith-based organisations, made presentations on their views on the implementation of the accepted recommendations.
The United Nations Development Programme and the Royal Norwegian government organised the seminar in conjunction with Government.
Online Reporter