Like many of you, we were shocked by the appointments made by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) The appointments showed that despite the fact that ZEC is supposed to be an independent commission, the government of Zimbabwe has no interest in ensuring that the Commission is truly independent. See our statement here.

Our membership handbook is now out. One of the five strategic pillars of the Shifting Power to the People Strategy is Building a Critical Mass. We are happy to announce a new resource for our 250 000 members. The new ZimRights Members’ Handbook is an essential tool for new and old members. It gives the ABC of what it means to be a member of ZimRights and the rights and duties. It is an action tool that is aligned with the new strategy. In it, you will find all the important resources in one place. These include the ZimRights Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Download your copy of the new handbook here

At the construction of Kariba Dam in the 1950s, the Batonga people, who are a minority tribe in Zimbabwe, were displaced. They lost their ancestral land. Some of them have settled in Siakobvu. Despite them paying the price for the development of the nation, the Batonga people in Siakobvu continue to live in abject poverty with no access to the benefits of the project which displaced their ancestors. No electricity. No roads. No telecommunications network. With support from ZimRights, the community has started demanding their rights by taking the government and several development companies to court. In October 2022, we will be hosting a dialogue session with the community to try and find common ground leading to the realisation of the rights of the community that has given so much to the nation. See our last report on this matter here.

Take action: Do you believe in socio-economic justice for the BaTonga people in Zimbabwe? On the side lines of the dialogue, we want to bring global solidarity to the community. Send txt or audio messages to the community that is fighting for their rights to +263 777 967 717 or email myvoice@zimrights.org.zw We will share your message of solidarity with the community.

THE POLICE ATTACK UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE STUDENTS FOR PROTESTING FEES HIKES

On the 12^th of September 2022, 16 Students from the University of Zimbabwe were arrested and detained at Avondale Police Station for protesting against an steep increase in tuition. This was despite the fact that the students were exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right (Section 59) the right of peaceful assembly. This right includes the freedom to demonstrate and preset petitions peacefully. The group appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday the 13^th and all 16 were released on free bail. According to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who were representing the students, three female students’ leaders were assaulted while in police detention. Further reports indicate that their right to privacy was violated as their WhatsApp and phone galleries were accessed and formatted.

the Rights and Traditions Report 

Following the launch of our 2021 State of Peace Report, there was a call to start important dialogue on the role of traditional leaders in politics and human rights in Zimbabwe. We are happy to report that on 12 August 2022 in Zaka, together with about 20 traditional leaders, we launched the our special report titled Rights and Traditions: Traditional Leadership, Politics and Human Rights in Zimbabwe. The report is a Policy Brief that focuses on the role of traditional leaders in political affairs in Zimbabwe. It outlines the legal framework that governs Traditional Leadership in Zimbabwe before unpacking the main functions of traditional leaders recognized in terms of the law. Subsequent sections of the brief zero-in on the legal standards that regulate the conduct of traditional leaders with a specific focus on the political neutrality requirement enshrined in the constitution. Download the report here.

ZimRights Audible: 2023 Elections: Lessons from Kenya – On 9 August 2022, Kenya held its general elections in Which William Ruto emerged victorious. The elections in Kenya have ignited the conversation on Zimbabwe’s election preparedness. ZimRights was part of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) delegation that observed elections in Kenya represented by our Programmes Coordinator Mr. Leo Chamahwinya. Some issues that stand out comparatively are that while the election management board in Kenya has tried to implement reforms to win the confidence of the people, our own ZEC seems determined to lose this confidence through a number of blunders that include failure to make the voters roll accessible, dubious appointments to the commission and prohibitive participation fees for people wanting to stand for office. Watch our Programmes Coordinator Mr. Chamahwinya reflect on his take on the lessons from Kenya for Zimbabwe. WATCH HERE.

In our blog we feature an in-depth interview published in the Newshawks in which our Teamleader Dzikamai Bere shares some insights on the new Shifting Power to the People Strategy (SP2P). Read the full interview here.

If you care about the work we do, you can now donate to our work through our website. Visit www.zimrights.org.zw/donate/ and make your donation from any part of the world.