Committee to handle political violence cases 

Source: Committee to handle political violence cases – DailyNews Live

STAFF REPORTER      30 April 2018

HARARE – Independent commissions and the police have set up a special
committee to facilitate the swift handling of political violence cases
ahead of the looming 2018 elections.

The committee comprises the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC),
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) and the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission (Zec).

During an interview with the media, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla
Chigumba said: “Zec has gone on record to condemn all forms of violence.
We have also created dispute mechanisms to take care of that.”

“Political parties have a code of conduct which prevents them from
electoral violence. They have agreed that they will enforce their own code
of conduct,” she said.

“The judiciary system has set up fast track courts that deal with
politically-motivated violence and we also need the police to investigate
and send dockets to the courts on time.

“In fact, there are now special prosecutors and magistrates have been
appointed to specially deal with such cases.”

Chigumba further revealed that the new mechanisms will help victims of
political violence report freely.

“What we need to do is to disseminate information or people to report,
because nothing can be done if a report is not made. The Zimbabwe Human
Rights Commission is also playing a key role,” she said.

ZHRC deputy chairperson Ellen Sithole also underscored the willingness of
her commission to investigate cases of violence and deploy teams in
communities.

“The ZHRC also has an investigative mandate. The Commission can
investigate the conduct of any authority or person, where it is alleged
that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration of
Human Rights (Chapter 4 of the Constitution) has been violated by that
authority or person”, she said, adding “such efforts will go a long way to
address political violence which has remained a permanent feature during
elections”.

Heal Zimbabwe Trust said it viewed the development as a positive step
towards minimising politically motivated violence. It however, said “it is
imperative to note such arrangements must be followed by the full
implementation of constitutional provisions such as Section 210 that
protect citizens against abuse by members of the security services”.

“This section provides for an independent complaints mechanism with a
responsibility to receive and investigate complaints from members of the
public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services
and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct.

“Also of paramount importance is the fact that independent commissions
must decentralise their activities to ward and village level so that their
services can be accessed by local communities….Heal Zimbabwe implores
independent commissions to continue working hand in glove with civic
organisations involved in monitoring, detecting and reporting timeously to
cases of human rights violations.”

Meanwhile, Erasmas Makodza has been appointed the 2018 harmonised
elections commander to address election-related violence and intimidation
before, during and after the upcoming polls.

The development comes in the wake of continued calls by ERC, urging
implementation of Section 133 of the Electoral Act to deter politically
motivated violence.

In a report titled `From Mhondoro – Mubaira (by-election) to 2018 General
Elections: Tracking Improvements to the Electoral Cycle’, the ERC made the
case for implementation of Section 133H and J and has been consistent
since then.

To this end, ERC wrote to the four institutions mandated under Section
133H and J of the Electoral Act, imploring upon them to execute their
mandate during by-elections. The ZRP, ZHRC and the JSC responded to this
call and set up shop in the Mwenezi East by-election in April 2017.

“Following the by-election, ERC wrote to the institutions stating their
observations of implementation of Section 133 in Mwenezi East. ERC is
therefore particularly pleased with the early implementation before
proclamation.”

Previous elections in Zimbabwe were marred by violence, intimidation and
misinformation which resulted in disputed outcomes. This was exacerbated
by implementation of Section 133H and J of the Electoral Act which was
erratic, if at all, since the advent of the new Constitution in May 2013.

By-elections that were held after the 2013 General Elections were
characterised by violence and intimidation especially in rural areas. ERC
therefore urges the police command to ensure impartiality, timeous
investigation of reported cases, preventative measures and submission of
periodic reports to the public.

“ERC also applauds the setting up of special courts across the country by
the JSC in consultation with the police. It is the ERC’s considered view
that full implementation of Section 133H and J of the Electoral Act will
go a long way towards establishing sustainable mechanisms for eliminating
politically motivated violence across the electoral cycle,” said the
organisation.

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