ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) calls upon government to expeditiously institutionalise the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission (ZICC) to ensure accessibility and the rolling out of its critical services and mandate, so as to arrest the culture of impunity among offending members of the security services and enhance public trust in them.
According to the provisions of section 210 of the Constitution, ZICC’s broad mandate is to receive and investigate complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct.
ZLHR is greatly concerned that five months have passed since members of ZICC were sworn in and yet the critical body is not yet functional.
The inability by ZICC to fully execute its critical constitutional mandate as provided in section 210 of the Constitution has serious implications on the ability of individuals – in particular victims of human rights violations – to access justice.
Over the years, ZLHR has represented several victims through filing anti-impunity claims against members of the security services including their institutions, which shows an escalation of human rights violations requiring investigation by a fully functioning and effective ZICC, which however is existent on the paper but dysfunctional.
The institutionalisation of ZICC is long overdue and it is pertinent that authorities ensure that ZICC expeditiously commences its operations as soon as possible.
ZLHR considers ZICC as a vital mechanism, which is designed to ensure transparency and fairness between members and institutions of the security services sector and the public in line with the provisions of section 210 of the Constitution.
The ZICC Act empowers citizens to report their grievances against members of the security services without the fear of retaliation thereby fostering a culture of accountability that is essential for a democratic society.
ZICC’s mandate as provided in section 210 of the Constitution helps to address individual grievances and also acts as a deterrent against future misconduct within security services and contributes to a broader culture of fostering accountability and trust in public institutions.
An independent complaints mechanism is crucial to ensure a better and more accountable security services personnel and also ensures that grievances brought against them will be addressed thereby providing a potential learning opportunity, which could lead to improvement in services.
As a body tasked with providing effective external oversight over members of the security services, ZICC should live up to the best regional and international standards and government must adequately resource and provide it with sufficient financial resources, to allow it to execute its critical mandate including conducting community outreaches to explain its role and the importance of accountability for members of the security services.
ZLHR encourages ZICC to immediately commence its operations and ensure that a strong, professional secretariat is established to assist in the implementation of its strategic plan and the fulfilment of its constitutional mandate.
ZICC’s activities and swift professional action will allow beneficiaries of its services to assess its commitment to the upholding, promotion and protection of human rights in Zimbabwe, especially where such concepts have been an anathema to many state and non-state actors, who perpetrate human rights excesses and have embraced a culture of impunity over the past four decades.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Kodzero/Amalungelo House
No. 103 Sam Nujoma Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone: (+263 8677005347, +263 242 764085/705370/708118
Email: info@zlhr.org
www.zlhr.org.zw
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