Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission throws Temba Mliswa into quandary

THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has declined to become part of a committee whose mandate would have been to investigate alleged cases of violence ahead of the Norton by-election, saying this would compromise its independence.

This has thrown into quandary independent candidate for the October 22 by-election, Temba Mliswa, whose supporters are being hounded by ruling ZANU-PF party supporters.

Mliswa is pushing for the establishment of the special liaison committee, saying he may pull out of the by-election if his demands are not met.

He alleges that cases of politically-motivated violence have risen to alarming levels in Norton ahead of the poll.

“The liaison committee’s absence is glaring and is creating a huge gap in cases of reported incidences,” said Mliswa.

With political violence rearing its ugly head in Norton, Mliswa is agitating for the disqualification of ZANU-PF candidate, Ronald Chindeza, on grounds of perpetrating violence.

Chindeza allegedly abducted a girl only identified as Natasha who was reportedly detained for three hours at an obscure ZANU-PF base.

The girl, whose mother defected from ZANU-PF to Mliswa, was allegedly assaulted and forced to put on a ZANU-PF t-shirt.

Two other victims of violence were allegedly attacked by unknown assailants and the matter was reported to the police.

A number of Mliswa’s supporters have also received threats of losing land or having their homes burnt.

The special liaison committee, responsible for the expeditious investigation of causes of politically-motivated violence or intimidation, is supposed to comprise of representatives from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), political party representatives and ZHRC.

Speaking to the Financial Gazette ZHRC chairperson, Elasto Mugwadi said: “That committee does not exist, not for this by-election. There are several issues which we need to deal with that include the lack of capacity and conflict of laws. The committee is comprised of the commission, ZRP and political parties. This also compromises the independence of the commission because one of the political parties being investigated may also be the culprit — how do you deal with that,” said Mugwadi.

ZHRC is empowered by the Electoral Act to direct the commissioner-general of the ZRP to set up a committee to investigate cases of suspected violations during an election.

Mugwadi said Section 234, 1 (h) of the Electoral Act that provides for the setting up of the committee of inquiry should be revisited to retain the independence of the commission whose powers have often been usurped by the State.

“If we receive any reports, we will deal with them as a commission without interference from the committee. We are looking at the legal implications vis-vis what is written in the Constitution,” said Mugwadi.

Lawyers and human rights advocates have blasted ZHRC for snubbing the committee.

Douglas Mwonzora, the secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change said the commission was abdicating its responsibility to investigate allegations of human rights abuses.

“Failing to investigate the cases means they are behaving in an irresponsible manner. Their failure to investigate shows the extent of the seed that (President Robert) Mugabe has put in the commission; it is politically motivated,” said Mwonzora.