By: Innocent Mawire, Programme Officer
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) recently hosted a one-day stakeholder engagement workshop in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province. The stakeholder engagement aimed to increase awareness of the ZHRC’s administrative justice function—its public protector mandate—and foster discussions with key stakeholders on addressing maladministration within public institutions.
The event saw the attendance and participation of high-ranking government officials, including the Minister for Provincial Affairs for Mashonaland West Province, Honourable Marian Chombo M.P (who graced the occasion); three Chiefs from the province; the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West, Mr. Josphat Jaji as well as Commissioners from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Commissioner Beauty Kajese and Commissioner Martin Muduva. Representatives from various government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Mashonaland West also attended the workshop.
Minister Marian Chombo graced the occasion
The workshop was graced by Hon. Minister Marian Chombo M.P, who in her keynote address emphasised the importance of promoting administrative justice as a core element of the national governance architecture and further appreciated the ZHRC for convening such an important event. The Minister called for collaboration between government institutions and other stakeholders to safeguard citizens’ rights, ensuring that public institutions operate with transparency and accountability as this was foundational towards achieving the country’s National Vision 2030 which seeks to achieve a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by the year 2030.
ZHRC’s Presentations on Administrative Justice
The ZHRC presented insightful discussions about the history of Zimbabwe’s public protector institution, its evolution through to the enactment of the new Constitution in 2013, and the Commission’s work in this particular area of administrative justice to date. The ZHRC’s mandate, as outlined in Section 243 (1)(e) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, includes protecting the public against abuse of power and maladministration by state and public institutions, as well as offering redress to aggrieved individuals.
The ZHRC also highlighted several key constitutional provisions, such as Section 194, which outlines the principles governing public administration, and Section 200, which regulates the conduct of civil service members. These provisions also inform the ZHRC’s work to promote administrative justice.
Additional presentations focused on the ZHRC’s core functions, including investigating maladministration, conducting public outreaches, and educating citizens on human rights and administrative justice. The ZHRC emphasised the importance of partnerships among various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and traditional leaders, in promoting good governance, human rights, and the rule of law. The Commission also underscored the success of its ADR mechanisms in resolving conflicts in maladministration.
IEC Materials to Promote Administrative Justice
The ZHRC underscored that a key feature of its outreach strategy involves dissemination of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials which the Commission has developed in furtherance of its work under this area. These resources, including flyers that educate the public on maladministration, the role of public officials in administrative justice, and the right to administrative justice (enshrined in Section 68 of the Constitution), have played a vital role in raising awareness about citizens’ rights and the functioning of public institutions.
Key Takeaways from Stakeholder Engagement
One significant outcome of the workshop was the recognition by the Chiefs of the ZHRC’s critical role in reaching out to marginalised communities. The Chiefs commended the Commission’s efforts to empower citizens by informing them of their rights and enhancing access to national documentation, particularly for disadvantaged groups in communities.
The Chiefs further recommended that the ZHRC engage with the Chiefs’ Council in Parliament to provide training for other traditional leaders, particularly village heads. As the closest point of contact with rural communities, Chiefs and village heads are in a unique position to promote and protect human rights at the grassroots level. Equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills would strengthen their contribution to promoting human rights.
Another key suggestion was for the ZHRC to explore the use of community radio stations to extend its reach, particularly in remote areas like Kariba. Community radio broadcasts, which have a wide reach in communities, were identified as a powerful tool for raising awareness where other forms of communication may be limited.
Collaboration as a Key to Success
The workshop reinforced the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to effectively address issues of maladministration within public institutions. Participants emphasised that working together, rather than resorting to adversarial methods like litigation, is crucial to building cooperative relationships and creating sustainable solutions.
Conclusion
The ZHRC Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Chinhoyi provided a valuable platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in Mashonaland West. The feedback received, particularly from the Chiefs, highlighted the ZHRC’s vital role in promoting administrative justice and human rights. In conclusion, the workshop’s recommendations—such as fostering stronger engagement with the Chiefs’ Council and increasing the use of community radios for awareness and outreach—can significantly improve the ZHRC’s visibility. These steps will support its efforts to promote human rights, transparency, accountability, and good governance in Zimbabwe. The stakeholder engagement was supported by RWI with funding from the European Union within the broad framework of the “Support to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission” project.
