THE Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has described the recent resignation of Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Reginald Austin as a serious threat to the protection of human rights ahead of harmonised elections expected next year.
Report By STAFF REPORTER
In a statement yesterday, the ZLHR said it was deeply disturbed by Austin’s resignation last Friday.
Austin said he had been forced to step down due to inadequate resources and the commission’s lack of independence to carry out its mandate. He said he had already advised President Robert Mugabe of his decision.
“ZLHR, therefore, is of the considered opinion that this resignation is an unequivocal statement of condemnation of the current operating framework of the commission, in particular the excessive powers of the Executive (through the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs), lack of effective powers and independence of the commission to investigate and take strong action where human rights violations have been brought to its attention, and its inability to effectively and independently investigate and take strong action in relation to electoral- related violations as it is currently constituted,” reads the ZLHR statement.
“His actions further speak volumes about the government’s continued and recalcitrant refusal to adequately equip the commission to carry out its work in terms of the required human and financial resources, thus making the government responsible for failure to uphold and protect human rights as we approach elections and other national processes such as the constitutional referendum.”
A respected lawyer, Austin was the Dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Zimbabwe between 1982 and 1992 and also served as a commissioner in the Delimitation Commission of Zimbabwe between 1984 and 1992 before he was appointed in 2009 to lead the ZHRC.
Commenting on the resignation, Justice deputy minister Obert Gutu said: “The system has made sure that he (Austin) is frustrated into resigning before the commission even starts its real work.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Many activists accused the ZHRC of being “a paper tiger created to tick reform boxes”. Although formed in 2009, the body was only given constitutional status in 2012 and even then a clause blocking it from investigating abuses before the violent election of June 2008 made the ZHRC as pointless as hot ice cream.
Critics say the commission must be accountable to Parliament, with its own resources, and not to the Minister of Justice (Patrick Chinamasa), who is a political appointee.
Other members of the ZHRC are Dr Ellen Sithole, Dr Joseph Kurebwa, Jacob Mudenda, Japhet Ndabeni-Ncube, Sheila Matindike, Elasto Mugwadi, Ona Jirira and Norma Niseni.
