The Institute for Community Development Zimbabwe ICOD Zim on 30th April 2020 beseeched the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional mandate to give effect to Section 210 of the Constitution and inquire into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown which came into effect on the 30th of March 2020.
AWARE that the High Court of Zimbabwe, on April 16, 2020, granted an interim order – in a case that challenged torture, inhumane and degrading conduct, disregard of human dignity and violation of the Constitution by members of the Police Service and the Zimbabwe National Army – requiring members the security services to respect human rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms when enforcing the National Lockdown regulations, such an order did not provide for the investigation of complaints against misconduct and the remedying harm caused by such misconduct.
WORRIED that the absence of an effective and independent mechanism envisaged under Section 210 deprives members of the public a constitutionally prescribed avenue for redress,
Therefore ICOD Zim beseeched Parliament to;
Ensure the promulgation of an Act of Parliament envisaged by Section 210 of the Constitution to provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating 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;
Ensure the protection of the public through Parliament’s oversight functions vis-à-vis the aforesaid mechanism;
Subject the relevant mechanism to such oversight as may be provided in the relevant Act of Parliament;
Inquire, using its constitutionally provided oversight function, into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.
Download full petition here (2.6MB PDF)
Source: Institute for Community Development Zimbabwe (ICOD Zim)
