The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) joins the people of Zimbabwe in celebrating the 37th Anniversary of the National Independence, which fell on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.
The milestone of the Independence celebrations in the history of the country is an important time for reflection regarding the past, the present and the future life of Zimbabweans.
As a human rights organisation, ZimRights notes that many human rights tenets formed the bedrock of the country’s quest and fight for Independence and majority rule: non-discrimination, human dignity, one man one vote, free political choice, and socioeconomic rights.
Thus, the observance, protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights remains one of the yardsticks with which progress and regression in the dream and reality of Zimbabwe’s Independence will obviously be judged.
On this front, ZimRights celebrates the adoption of the new Constitution that is a product of free Zimbabweans, which through the expanded and modern Bill of Rights, Chapter 4, fulfils the need to safeguard the fundamental human rights of all citizens.
However, it is sad to note that, for the past 37 years of Independence, Zimbabwe’s human rights record has been repeatedly blemished by different manner of human rights violations some of which still continue unabated.
Due to a widespread culture of impunity and loopholes in the rule of law, the adverse effects of the human rights violations of the past years continue to manifest at community and national level with victims unhealed and perpetrators unsanctioned.
Yet, it is common knowledge that, during the colonial era and liberation struggle of Zimbabwe, freedom fighters used to plead the case for National Independence at United Nations (UN) and other international forums on the basis of some of the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948.
But, 37 years after National Independence, the government now attends to constantly answer to widespread and serious deficiencies in the country’s protection of human rights at forums such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council.
In the conduct of State institutions, the manner of political campaigns during elections, and the distribution of social aid as well as natural resources, there are unfortunate practices that need to be aligned with human rights principles.
Part of the work of advancing human rights in Zimbabwe entails that all laws and administrative processes in the country are urgently aligned with the democratic, human rights-friendly letter and spirit of the new Constitution.
For this to happen, there is obvious need for deeper political will, undoubted commitment and conscious effort on the part of the Government.
