Source: Rights body delays releasing San report – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 2 May 2018
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has said it is yet to
finalise a report on Zimbabwe’s marginalised San community, almost two
years after the rights body conducted the research in the southern part of
the country.
ZHRC executive secretary Makanatsa Makonese told Southern News this week
that they were still working on the research.
“The report on the San community was circulated last year but we realised
that there was need for further research on it which was supposed to be
done. So we have completed that research and the report is yet to be
finalised.”
Founder of Tsoro o tso San Development Trust Davy Ndlovu, whose
organisation has for years been advocating for the welfare of the San
people, said the research by ZHRC was conducted by the rights body between
2015 and 2016.
He said the research, which was meant to gather accurate information about
the San, was a follow-up to the one done by the Open Society of Southern
Africa (Osisa) in 2014.
“The purpose of both studies was to gather accurate information about the
San in Zimbabwe, who are the least researched group of Khoisan people in
Southern African,” Ndlovu said.
He said the ZHRC study was done in Tsholotsho District’s ward 7, an area
where the San people are still found.
“The issues that came out included lack of access to healthcare and
government services, drought, poverty and high levels of illiteracy among
the San. From the San perspective, this was a welcome sight since many
organisations felt that the San were found in remote areas that were not
easily accessible.”
Ndlovu appealed for the speedy release of the report which he said was
going to play an important role in exposing the plight of the San people
to the government and the world at large.
“The publication of this report will enlighten the Zimbabweans in general
and the world at large about the plight of the San. Our hope is that the
report be published soon.
“Our understanding is that the report has gone through a number of stages,
including validation and we are optimistic that it will be out soon.”
COMMENTS
THE SAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MARGINALISED FOR TOO LONG A TIME, WE CALL UPON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY TO ACT UPON THEIR PLIGHT BY PROMOTING, PROTECTION AND FULFILLING. THROUGH THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION , ISSUES RAISED BY THE SAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THE WE GO BY THE MANTRA THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN ZIMBABWE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. INDIGENOUS AND MINORITY RIGHTS IS BUSINESS TO BE FOCUSSED AT BY GOVERNMENT IF IT IS WORTH ITS SALT