CSOs express concern ahead of United Nations Universal Periodic Review for Zim

ZIMBABWE’S United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) review will be on January 26, 2022. The civil society organisation (CSO) report, which was submitted by CSOs in Zimbabwe for the third cycle reporting period, was submitted to the Human Rights Council in July 2021 and has been translated from English to Shona and Ndebele.

Despite the progress made in implementing some recommendations from the second cycle, there were many human rights issues of concern during the period under review.

The political transition of November 2017 saw military intervention in national politics, leading to the constructive resignation of the late former President Robert Mugabe. This development has altered the governance architecture of the country leading to militarisation of governmental functions.

General elections were held on July 30, 2018, which were generally peaceful, but independent observer missions issued hundreds of recommendations for electoral reform, many of which remain outstanding as the country heads for its next elections in 2023.

During public protests demanding election results on August 1, 2018, State security agents used excessive force resulting in the death of six people from shootings, and several injured. The recommendations of a commission of inquiry established to look into the violence remain unimplemented.

Economic challenges led to protests in January 2019 to oppose a fuel price hike that had ripple effects on the cost of living. State security agents, especially the army and police, responded with disproportionate force, dragnet arrests and summary trials.

In February 2020, Zimbabwe adopted lockdown measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. The selective partisan and violent enforcement of measures, and conditions imposed on the exercise of rights and freedoms, unduly limited enjoyment of human rights.

Civic space continues to shrink at an alarming rate. Proposed new laws such as amendments to the Private Voluntary Organisation Act and Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, and the “Patriotic Bill”, will undermine the work of human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations, especially those working on governance issues.

Since 2017, government has pushed through Parliament two Bills introducing several amendments to the Constitution.

The amendments have a devastating impact on separation of powers, increasing Executive control over appointments in the Judiciary and of the ProsecutorGeneral.

The amendments also undermine the oversight role of Parliament on actions of the Executive. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights