Story by Peter Chivhima
ZIMBABWE has been commended for progress in upholding human rights in line with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
A delegation from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is on a promotional mission in the country and paid a courtesy call on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, in Harare on Monday.
Briefing journalists after a closed-door meeting, Rapporteur for Zimbabwe, Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah Njie said the mission is focused on assessing Zimbabwe’s implementation of the Charter and promoting its provisions.
“Today, we are here on a promotional mission… to engage in constructive dialogue… and to assess how best Zimbabwe is implementing its international obligations under the Charter… We have just had a discussion with the Minister of Justice, and I think the discussions have been very constructive… We have received candid… feedback on challenges and progress made,” she said.
She added that the delegation is also reviewing prison conditions, treaty ratification processes and the country’s adherence to reporting obligations, while engaging various stakeholders, including Government ministries, civil society and the UN system.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Vimbai Nyemba, said the visit is part of a broader continental exercise to assess human rights progress.
“This is a promotional visit to meet various stakeholders and assess how far we have gone in terms of human rights issues… they acknowledged that Zimbabwe is up to date with its reports and responds swiftly whenever there are inquiries,” she said.
She noted that the delegation also met Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, as part of its wide-ranging consultations.
The delegation is expected to continue engagements with Government institutions and civil society organisations before presenting its preliminary findings.
