The IBAHRI delegation visited Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo in June.
“The political environment is gravely polarized and characterised by a resurgence of violence, arrests, intimidation and hate speech, which contradict the letter and spirit of the GPA,” says the report.
“It is clear that hard-line elements in Zanu (PF) do not wish to share power with their political opponents and are using the control over the state apparatus in a blatantly partisan way.”
Among other issues that IBAHRI said should be implemented are human rights and rule of law reforms, reforming of the criminal justice system and a new Constitution that protects the rule of law with, among other things, provisions that secure the independence of the judiciary.
It also recommended that the Joint Monitoring Committee should have a more active role in dealing with cases of political violence, including oversight of investigations by national police and producing regular public reports to the GPA signatories, who in turn should be obliged to respond publicly in writing.
“International donors should provide effective support for fundamental reforms to the Zimbabwean state, including strengthening judicial independence and institutions such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, providing appropriate rights-relevant training for the police, and improving the administration and financial auditing of justice institutions,” says the report.
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