Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has visited established institutions in the region to get insights into effective investigation and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The Commission, through the support of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute with funding from the European Union visited the Office of the Public Protector of South Africa, the Kenyan Commission on Administrative Justice and the Inspectorate of Government of Uganda.
In an interview, ZHRC Commissioner Martin Muduva said the learning visits provided comparative frameworks to refine their complaint-handling processes.
“Drawing lessons from different models in the region is crucial.
“The Inspectorate of Government of Uganda shared key initiatives that included the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, spot checks on public institutions, physical inspections of government projects, boardroom sessions for institutional reform and an electronic case management system for efficient case tracking,” he said.
“The IGU also has litigation and enforcement mechanisms that ensure compliance with its decisions. These approaches illustrate diverse methods of strengthening administrative justice.
“We have gained first-hand exposure to best practices, which could inform discussions on improving service delivery.
“The Zimbabwean public stands to benefit from enhanced accountability mechanisms. Government and public institutions may also experience improved oversight and service delivery practices as a result of knowledge gained during the visit.”
“Immediate considerations may include efficiency improvements in ADR and case-handling procedures, with timelines dependent on institutional deliberations, resource availability and legal frameworks.
“Observations from all three benchmarking visits highlight different enforcement mechanisms, including the IGU’s binding rulings and prosecution authority, which contribute to strengthening administrative justice.
“However, any considerations for changes will need further deliberations within the Commission, which are underway,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking during a meeting held in Bulawayo recently, ZHRC chairperson, Ms Jessie Majome said there is need to track the implementation of the recommendations of the National Inquiry on Access to Documentation.
“Administrative justice was not receiving adequate attention yet it is so important. This resulted in the Commission establishing a department that deals with maladministration issues,” she said.
“The Commission has also escalated administrative justice awareness campaigns in its operations.
“The inquiry brought to the fore the challenges faced by various groups in acquiring identity documents, including border lying communities, indigenous minorities, persons with disabilities, older persons and vulnerable children.”
