×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

‘Zim not conducive for free, fair polls’

Politics
AN international human rights delegation that recently toured the country to assess the human rights situation has expressed concern over the non-implementation of agreed electoral reforms

AN international human rights delegation that recently toured the country to assess the human rights situation has expressed concern over the non-implementation of agreed electoral reforms and the harassment of civic groups and human rights defenders.

Report by Wonai Masvingise

In a statement released yesterday, the delegation sponsored by the Robert F Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights said the current environment was not conducive for the holding of free and fair elections.

“During the visit, several concerns arose with regularity, including a general lack of progress on reforms outlined in the Global Political Agreement, increased intimidation, threats and violence against civil society and violations of the rights to freedom of expression and access to information,” the statement read.

The delegation was also on a mission to identify ways to assist the country’s stakeholders to ensure the active participation of civil society in a peaceful election.

Members of the delegation met Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC leader Welshman Ncube, several civil society groups and human rights defenders, but failed to meet any Zanu PF representatives.

“We hope that our visit will positively contribute to the ongoing discourse about the country and help to ensure the conditions for credible elections later this year,” delegation leader Kerry Kennedy, said.