Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Centre for Governance (ACG) aimed at bolstering administrative justice and enhancing public service accountability and governance.
The partnership will see both bodies conduct policy research into service delivery gaps, human rights enforcement and election support, aiming to ensure citizens receive clear, written reasons when government services are delayed or denied.
Speaking to Zimpapers, ZHRC chairperson Ms Fungayi Jessie Majome said this transparency measure is crucial for driving the country’s Vision 2030 development goals.
“Accountability is crucial for good governance, and its consistent practice accelerates national development, enabling us to meet our goals, including the Vision 2030 strategy,” she said.
“Conversely, unaccountable public officials compromise the rights of the people they serve, undermining administrative justice, livelihoods, healthcare, education, and other essential services.”
Ms Majome emphasised that the agreement also includes joint initiatives on voter education and assessments of infrastructure policies, such as public transport, to uphold administrative justice.
“As a commission, we recognise the immense potential of traditional leadership in promoting good governance and human rights, as enshrined in our constitution, which is why we need traditional-based solutions.
“We believe that collaboration and knowledge-sharing with experts, such as the ACG, which has experience working with traditional leaders in South Africa, could yield beneficial outcomes, ultimately strengthening our traditional leadership and its role in our society.”
In his sentiment, ZHRC acting secretary Mr Erik Mukutiri said the collaboration will draw on ACG’s pan-African expertise in traditional leadership oversight and build on existing ties with the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“Addressing the root causes of systemic issues is crucial for our success. We believe administrative justice is a key platform for impactful change, and we invite your support and challenge in this partnership to drive sustainable and lasting solutions.”
Meanwhile, ACG executive director Mr Tumelo Mokoena said joint research teams will diagnose the root causes of service delivery failures and develop legislative reform that promotes human rights.
“In developing our initiatives, we engage experts from various units to conduct thorough analyses, ensuring the human rights work is impactful,” said Mr Mokoena..
“Recognising the value of collaboration, we opted to work directly with these experts through the ZHRC, rather than engaging them individually, which enables us to craft initiatives that resonate with their expertise and enhance our programmes.
Online Reporter