The responsibility to respect human rights requires that business enterprises; “Avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through their own activities and address such impacts when they occur.”
Failure by the business enterprise to discharge a duty of care has obliged the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) to file a case to enforce corporate accountability. On the 7th of October 2021, ZELA filed summons against Anjn Private Investments and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Holdings Limited on behalf of a minor child represented by his guardian Milton Mudzingwa.
ZELA sued the two institutions for failure to put in place precautionary measures which resulted in the minor child suffering electric shock. The minor sustained several severe injuries on his body because of the electric shock. In this case the plaintiff claimed damages for present and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and disability.
This case is meant to hold businesses and corporates accountable for failure to respect human rights that are provided for in the Constitution and Zimbabwe legal framework.
Source: Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association
