On Friday the 1st of December 2023, the European Union (EU) through the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) donated a project motor vehicle (an Isuzu D-MAX 2.5L Diesel 4×2 Double Cab) and 10 HP Laptop computers to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC). The handover ceremony for the vehicle and the laptops, which took place at the ZHRC Headquarters in Harare was attended by several dignitaries who included Dr. Elasto Mugwadi, the Chairperson of the ZHRC, Mr. Ville Aro, Second Secretary, at European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe and Mr. Mikael Johansson, RWI Director for the Zimbabwe Programme and Harare Office. In addition, the occasion was also graced by senior management at the ZHRC as well as RWI officers.
The vehicle and the laptops were procured as part of strengthening the institutional capacities of the ZHRC under the EC funded Action on “Support to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission” being implemented by RWI. The overall objective of the support is to increase the enjoyment of constitutional rights in Zimbabwe through the institutional strengthening of the ZHRC to effectively and efficiently discharge its mandate to protect, promote and enforce human rights and administrative justice in Zimbabwe.
The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Treasury supported the procurement of the project vehicle through the payment of import duty and Value-Added Tax (VAT) and acknowledged the important role the vehicle will play in the work of the ZHRC. The donated motor vehicle and laptops are important assets that will go a long way in assisting the ZHRC in the discharge of its mandate. The vehicle will assist the ZHRC in increasing its field work particularly in conducting awareness raising and outreaches, human rights investigations, as well as the monitoring and inspections. With the massive recruitment drive the ZHRC has carried out during the year, the laptops will help ensure that officers have the necessary equipment and tools needed in the discharge of their work.
The donation will go a long way in enhancing the institutional capacities of the ZHRC, which in turn will help ensure that the ZHRC plays its role in building and cultivating a culture for the protection and promotion of human rights in Zimbabwe.