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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Correspondent
MUTARE residents have welcomed moves to enact the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Bill into law, saying it is inclusive.
A public hearing of the Bill was jointly convened by the Portfolio Committees on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Defence; Home Affairs and Security Services and the Thematic Committee on Peace and Security in Mutare last week on Friday.
The Bill seeks to establish a Commission to investigate complaints of misconduct on the part of members of the security services and to provide remedies for such misconduct.
The Memorandum of the Bill states that the envisaged Commission should be independent from all the security services.
The Commission will comprise a chairperson appointed by the President after consultations with the Judicial Service Commission, as well as four other members appointed by the President from a list of not less than seven nominees submitted by Parliament.
Mr Luscious Kuwanyara of Development Trust of Zimbabwe said the Bill is a huge step towards restoring public confidence.
“With this Commission, members of the public will have a safe place to go and report without fear. It will boost the confidence of the general public,” said Mr Kuwanyara.
Mr Tinashe Mzamiwa of Mutare Youth Assembly said if enacted into law, the Bill will go a long way in preventing members of the security services from committing human rights violations.
He, however, said the Bill is silent on the protection of victims and witnesses who may be threatened as a result of their participation in any complaint raised against security forces.
“The effectiveness and independence of the ZICC will depend more on the integrity of its members rather than on the law under which it operates. A properly constituted Commission will be effective,” he said.
Another participant, Ms Abigail Mupfava of Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, said the ZICC should have arresting powers so that victims get closure on their cases.
She also said the Bill should be sensitive to marginalised groups like women, youths and people with disabilities.
The Bill was gazetted in November last year and was tabled in the August House by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi last month.
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