Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
RESIDENTS’ associations have begun collecting signatures for a petition to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, seeking an investigation into the Budiriro 3 tragedy, accountability from the City of Harare, compensation for affected families and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The petition, which is being spearheaded by the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), follows the recovery of three bodies from a sewer pond in Budiriro 3 that residents say had remained open, unsecured and unmarked for months, raising concerns over alleged negligence by the City of Harare.
CHRA chairperson Mr Reuben Akili said residents had already started mobilising support for the petition, which is expected to be lodged with the commission within days.
“The communities have started mobilising for signatures. We will then lodge our petition with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission,” he said.
“As we have always said, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has a mandate to promote and protect human rights. There is a right to life here which is under siege, but there are also other human rights violations which we feel require the commission’s intervention.”
Mr Akili said the residents’ body wants the commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, determine whether any rights violations occurred and make its findings public.
“We are calling upon the commission to publicise the report of their findings around the violation of human rights relating to this issue. After that, if there are opportunities for litigation, we can then pursue the legal route,” he said.
“This is a serious issue of gross negligence. We are waiting for the outcome of the report from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, which will then inform us on the next steps. If litigation is necessary, we will pursue the legal route.”
Mr Akili said residents were hopeful the petition would be submitted before the end of the week.
“We are waiting for probably Monday or Friday when the petition will be lodged, and then we await the responses from the commission,” he said.
“However, if the commission process is too slow, we can pursue other necessary measures which we feel can address this issue. More importantly, we want the city to become more responsive to these issues.”
Mr Akili said the petition is grounded in constitutional provisions that empower citizens and organisations to seek redress where fundamental rights have been violated.
