Senator urges increased funding for Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission

BULAWAYO senator and lawyer, Mr Kucaca Phulu, has called on Government to channel more funds towards the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), saying it plays a crucial role in terms of how the international community views the country regarding human rights issues.

Contributing during a debate on the Commission’s 2023 annual report presented to the Senate, Mr Phulu said the human rights watchdog is key in arguing the gains for Zimbabwe on various international platforms.

Mr Phulu noted that due to underfunding, the ZHRC commissioners and the secretariat are sometimes forced to use personal vehicles to conduct official business.

“Ever since its formation, if my memory serves me right, it (ZHRC) is one of the commissions that has received the least support regarding resources to do their work. I remember when Commissioners out of all the commissions did not have vehicles to work with,” he said.

“They were working with their personal vehicles and I believe that under the Second Republic, we should see an improvement in how this Commission is treated and how it is funded.”

Mr Phulu said civic society organisations provide a shadow report drawn immensely from a report by organisations such as the ZHRC.

He said if well supported financially, the Commission will be able to produce more detailed reports and be able to make more effective interventions so that the country’s human rights record is correctly captured.

“As we contain this indicator and as we paint that we are sensitive to human rights situation, perhaps one day we will see our message on Zimbabwe as a destination for investment and as a peer sitting on the international and regional tables with others, becoming a respected nation,” said Mr Phulu.

“I would like to thank the ZHRC for presenting the report in terms of their constitutional mandate and for presenting a report which is detailed and gives us a good indication of what the human rights situation is like in our country.”

The ZHRC was created in terms of Chapter 12 of the Constitution as one of the Independent Commissions supporting democracy in Zimbabwe.

Its major functions, as enshrined in the Constitution are to promote awareness of and respect for human rights and freedoms at all levels of society, to promote the protection, development, and attainment of human rights and freedoms, monitor, assess, and ensure observance of human rights and freedoms.

The Commission also receives and considers complaints from the public and takes such action regarding the complaints as it considers appropriate, to protect the public against abuse of power and maladministration by State and public institutions and by officers of those institutions, to investigate the conduct of any authority or person.

Where it is alleged that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration of Rights has been violated by that authority or person, it must secure appropriate redress, including recommending the prosecution of offenders.

According to the Constitution, the ZHRC has the authority to direct the Commissioner-General of Police to investigate suspected criminal violations of human rights or freedoms and to report to the Commission on the results of any such investigation, to recommend to Parliament effective measures to promote human rights and freedoms, and to conduct research into issues relating to human rights and freedoms and social justice.

It can also recommend Parliament to visit and inspect, prisons, places of detention, refugee camps, and related facilities and places where mentally disordered or intellectually handicapped persons are detained to ascertain their living conditions.