Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa-Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising a partnership to strengthen the protection of human rights, promote administrative justice and improve the referral of rights-related cases from grassroots communities to national institutions.
The MoU establishes structured referral pathways, joint research initiatives and coordinated public awareness programmes designed to ensure that community-level testimonies of human rights and administrative justice violations are documented, escalated and addressed through recognised national mechanisms.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare, ZHRC chairperson Ms Jessie Majome said the agreement builds on an existing working relationship between the commission and the church, while enhancing cooperation in case referrals and public education.
“The Memorandum of Understanding that we have signed with the Zimbabwe Council of Churches is a formal expression of our intention to collaborate with each other,” Ms Majome said.
“Its emphasis is on the Zimbabwe Council of Churches referring cases to us, cases of either human rights violations or administrative justice violations.”
Ms Majome said churches provide an effective platform for human rights education because of their extensive reach and trusted role within communities.
“It will also be strong on joint research as well as awareness-raising of the public because the church already has ready audiences for the promotion of human rights work. The more we know about our human rights, the more we are able to assert them,”
She said t the protection of human rights is not the sole responsibility of the State, but a shared duty involving citizens and institutions alike.
“Our Constitution gives a duty to each of us, and we often forget that. We therefore need to work against all violations of rights, and we look forward to the church playing its role in this regard,” Ms Majome said.
“The church brings together people from all walks of life and persuasions.
“Ultimately, this contributes to the attainment of national development objectives, including the aspiration to achieve upper middle-income economy status,” she said.
ZCC general secretary Reverend Winfred Dimingu described the MoU as a practical framework designed to translate shared values into concrete action.
“The Memorandum of Understanding we have signed is not a ceremonial document. It is a strategic instrument deliberately crafted to operationalise our common commitment to human dignity, justice and accountability,” he said.
Rev Dimingu said the partnership combines the church’s extensive grassroots presence with the commission’s constitutional mandate and enforcement capacity.
