The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) is pressing the government to implement Section 210 of the Constitution, which requires the setting-up of an independent mechanism to deal with complaints against the police and security services.
Passmore Nyakureba, ZimRights National Chairperson
The Zimbabwean security forces, such as the uniformed forces and the Central Intelligence Organisation, have been accused of violating citizens’ rights through alleged abductions, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.
This is a public interest matter and everyone who is concerned about the conduct of the police and other security service personnel and the use of violence in the curtailment of civil liberties, especially the right to demonstrate and to express views freely, is urged to attend the court hearing.
According to Section 210 of the Constitution: “An Act of Parliament must provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating 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.”
There is concern among citizens that the government had done nothing so far — almost two and a half years after the Constitution came into force — to set up this mechanism, and it is expected that the case will pressure the government to comply with the provision for a complaints unit.
Pointing to cases of recent police brutality on peaceful protesters, anyone who has seen pictures in the media of police officers apparently beating teachers and commuter omnibus drivers will realise how necessary such a complaints mechanism is.
