HARARE Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the government would soon announce members of the proposed Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and three other statutory bodies created by the countrys power-sharing agreement. Delays in forming the ZHRC, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Zimbabwe Media Commission have raised fears that President Robert Mugabe wanted to tamper with nominations submitted to him by Parliament so that he includes some of his loyalists. Interviews of prospective candidates for the three commissions took place more than two months ago while the parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders Committee is yet to select members of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The President and myself will soon be announcing the composition of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the other commissions designed to provide support to the issue of peoples’ rights, the premier said in a statement to mark International Human Rights Day last Thursday. The commissions are some of the political reforms that the Harare
coalition government must undertake as part of a drive to reshape and democratise the countrys politics. Zimbabweans hope establishment of the commissions would help protect
citizens rights and freedoms after a decade of worsening political violence and rights abuses as Mugabes pervious government resorted to more repressive methods to contain rising public discontent in the face of an economic and food crisis.
Tsvangirai said the formation of the four commissions would be important milestones in Zimbabwes torturous march towards respecting peoples and human rights. He said the Global Political Agreement (GPA) that led to the formation of the unity government was based upon the sanctity of human rights, particularly with reference to freedom from persecution, freedom of expression and assembly, security of tenure, security of persons and prevention of violence.
Human rights violations have however continued despite the formation of the coalition government by Mugabe and Tsvangirai, with, partisan security forces stifling ordinary Zimbabweans rights to freedom of assembly, association and movement. Perceived Mugabe opponents continue to be harassed and arrested by the police and other elements aligned to the Zimbabwean strongman who has ruled the southern African country with an iron fist since independence in 1980.
Tsvangirai spoke as hundreds of people joined a Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights) march through Harares central business district to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
Post published in: Politics