Declare national pledge unconstitutional: rights lawyers

Source: Declare national pledge unconstitutional: rights lawyers – NewsDay Zimbabwe April 23, 2016

Human rights lawyers have urged the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) to declare the national school pledge imposed by Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora as unconstitutional.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

All pupils will, starting next term, be obliged to recite the national pledge daily as part of government’s efforts to inculcate a culture of patriotism among the country’s youths.

The Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) said the national school pledge was unconstitutional, and called on the ZHRC to use its mandate to ensure that it is not forced on students and pupils.

The MIHR said the pledge ran against the religious beliefs of many citizens, and should be discarded.

“We also call on the ZHRC to protect the rights of the Christian community which are being deliberately and blatantly violated by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education through the pledge. Then ZHRC should issue a public statement explaining the unconstitutionality and the human rights violations being posed by the pledge.

“The commission should do this as it is their duty and mandate as put in Chapter 12 Section 243 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” the MIHR said in a statement.

“We call on the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to uphold the rights of children, as the parent ministry responsible for children during schooling hours, by listening to the voices of reason and stopping this pledge from continuing as initially planned.”

Beginning next term, pupils at infant school will recite the following pledge: “Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag, I commit to honesty and dignity of hard work.”

In junior and secondary schools, pupils will recite, “Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag. Respecting the brave fathers and mothers who lost lives in the Chimurenga/Umvukela.

“We are proud inheritors of the richness of our natural resources. We are proud creators and participants in our vibrant traditions and cultures. So I commit to honesty and the dignity of hard work.”