As the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) marks a decade of human rights capacity development in Zimbabwe, the End of Programme Event provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress, partnerships and lessons that have shaped this work. Across two panel discussions, representatives from independent constitutional commissions, justice sector institutions and academia reflected on how sustained investment in institutional capacity and human rights education has contributed to strengthening Zimbabwe’s human rights landscape.
Panel discussion 1: A Decade of Capacity Development: Strengthening Independent Constitutional Commissions and select justice sector institutions in Zimbabwe
The first panel discussion at the RWI End of Programme Event was constituted by the independent commissions and other justice sector institutions. The discussion offered a powerful reflection on the journey, achievements and lasting impact of RWI’s Human Rights Capacity Development Programme in Zimbabwe.
Dr Mutangi an independent consultant and lecturer in law at the University of Zimbabwe Law Faculty, reflected on how the programme was conceptualised underpinned by consultation, mutual understanding and cooperation, with a strong emphasis on strengthening local ownership. He highlighted that over the years the programme contributed to deeper collaboration among local universities, strengthened the pedagogical skills of law lecturers, and supported the development of locally grounded legal literature, some of which is now being cited by the judiciary in its judgments.
For the ZHRC, the cooperation, which has been ongoing since 2018, contributed to strengthening the Commission’s human rights capacities to implement its mandate in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The ZGC underlined that its Secretariat’s capacity on human rights, development of alternative reports to regional and treaty bodies, prison monitoring and gender audits of public institutions. Importantly, the programme created opportunities for stronger inter-institutional dialogue, joint action and collaboration among constitutional and justice sector institutions.
The ZACC reflected on the importance of perspective-taking and the recognition of corruption as a human rights issue as key issues brought to the fore in its cooperation with RWI. ZACC further noted that RWI supported the strengthening of investigative capacities, while introducing and reinforcing mechanisms for inter-agency coordination. The strengthening of research capacities and provision of practical tools and resources were also highlighted as important contributions to institutional sustainability.
For the NPAZ, RWI cooperation mainly focused on safeguarding fair trial rights in prosecutorial prosecutors. The focus on fair trial rights helped sharpen essential prosecutorial skills and strengthen understanding of the prosecutor’s broader role in the administration of justice. The programme challenged the narrow perception that the prosecutor’s primary responsibility is simply to secure convictions, emphasising instead the duty to protect fair trial rights and guide both the police and the courts in upholding due process. The institutionalisation of fair trial principles, updating of the prosecutors’ training manual and strengthened collaboration across the justice sector were identified as important achievements under the cooperation.
The ZPCS reflected on the timeliness of the partnership as the institution was undergoing a significant transformation from a predominantly incarceration focused approach towards rehabilitation and reintegration, consistent with Zimbabwe’s constitutional framework. Training in human rights for prison officers contributed to changes in officers’ attitudes and perceptions, while support for the development of training curricula, research and access to relevant literature strengthened institutional capacity. The training of facilitators also created a multiplier effect, enabling human rights knowledge to reach a wider pool of officers. Collaboration with institutions such as the ZHRC as well as correctional institutions in the region has further been strengthened, including through human rights training.
Across the different reflections, one message stood out: the value of the programme extends beyond individual trainings and activities. It has contributed to institutional transformation, stronger collaboration, locally owned knowledge and practical tools that can sustain the gains made beyond the programme period. The panel therefore provided an important reminder that meaningful institutional strengthening is ultimately about building capacity, strengthening systems, fostering collaboration and ensuring that knowledge becomes embedded in institutions and practice.
Panel discussion 2: A Decade of Strengthening Human Rights Education in Zimbabwe
The second panel discussion at the RWI End of Programme Event brought together representatives from Zimbabwe’s universities to reflect on a decade of cooperation to strengthen human rights education, research and practice. The discussion highlighted how the partnership has connected institutions, built the capacities of lecturers and students, and created opportunities for collaboration that extend beyond the classroom.
For Midlands State University (MSU), RWI cooperation across Zimbabwe’s law schools has been instrumental in strengthening lecturers’ research and teaching capacities. Training in research methodology, participation in winter and summer schools, and research grants have enabled lecturers and students to develop practical research skills and collaborate across disciplines. Community-based research in particular provided opportunities for law students and researchers to engage directly with communities and explore applied legal research, including through policy briefs. The cooperation has also supported students to explore emerging areas such as business and human rights and strengthened lecturers’ understanding of grant writing and management.
At the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), the partnership has contributed significantly to capacity building in pedagogy, teaching techniques and curriculum development. The skills and resources developed through the programme have been embedded in teaching, while manuals, human rights textbooks and publications continue to serve as institutional resources. Research and training initiatives also supported practical engagement with human rights, including through prison visits and legal clinic activities focused on access to justice. The partnership further enabled collaboration on integrating women’s rights and climate change into university curricula, with modules continuing to be offered.
For Africa University (AU), access to library resources and the development of specialised law librarians have been important contributions to strengthening human rights education. With human rights increasingly cutting across all areas of law, access to relevant resources has supported teaching and research across the institution. The university has also benefited from support for its Master’s programme in human rights, research grants, moot courts and human rights outreach activities. Today, human rights education is firmly established as a core component of legal education in AU.
At Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU), more than 80 students participated in winter and summer schools, while short courses on human rights, in particular children’s rights, reached beyond the law faculty, being attended by students from other faculties too. The donation of human rights books to the university library has strengthened access to learning resources. The programme also encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration, with researchers from different fields coming together through joint grant applications and producing interdisciplinary research.
For Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), the partnership provided an opportunity to connect human rights education with questions of social justice, the rule of law and inclusive societies. Students were exposed to customary law alongside international human rights standards, including through practical learning during winter schools. Participation in professional trainings, such as the Professional Training Programme on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also allowed cascading of knowledge and of key concepts, such as universal design. The partnership with RWI was seen as an important platform for mentoring future professionals who can integrate human rights into their professional practice.
Across the reflections, participants emphasised that the value of the programme extends well beyond individual activities. It has created lasting institutional resources, strengthened teaching and research capacities, fostered interdisciplinary and inter-university collaboration, and opened opportunities for students to learn through practical engagement.
Looking ahead, the universities highlighted the importance of maintaining these networks and exploring new sources of funding and collaboration. Online teaching, webinars, guest lectures, joint publications, conferences and continued collaboration among the law schools were identified as practical ways to sustain the gains made. Above all, the discussion underscored the importance of continuing to invest in the people, partnerships and institutional systems that make human rights education, teaching and research sustainable.