THE United Nations (UN) and other international human rights bodies are still seized with the controversial removal of former Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson, Fungayi Jessie Majome, amid growing concerns over executive interference in independent institutions.
This follows fresh submissions by Justice pour Tous Internationale (JPTi), a Geneva-based human rights organisation, which has urged international human rights mechanisms to intervene in the dispute over Majome's removal by President Emmerson Mnangagwa from the helm of the ZHRC.
JPTi last week filed a supplementary update with the United Nations Special Procedures, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA), and the president of the Human Rights Council regarding what it describes as the unlawful removal of Majome from office.
The supplementary submission builds on an earlier complaint lodged on 27 April 2026, which brought the matter before the UN.
The submissions raised concerns over alleged reprisals, executive interference with the ZHRC, and violations of the Paris Principles, which set standards for the independence of national human rights bodies.
According to JPTi, recent developments in Constitutional Court case CCZ 29/26 reinforce concerns raised in its initial complaint.
The organisation had filed a formal complaint with the UN stating that Majome's removal, publicly presented as a "reassignment," constitutes retaliation for the ZHRC's independent human rights monitoring of constitutional public hearings.
"JPTi submits that the domestic filings confirm the central concern raised in the original complaint: the President's position relies on the concept of 'reassignment' to justify the removal of Ms Majome from the ZHRC without triggering the constitutional safeguards governing removal from office," the organisation said in its submission.
The organisation argued that removing the chairperson of an independent national human rights institution through what is termed a "reassignment" risks circumventing constitutional and international protections designed to safeguard the office.
"Such reasoning would undermine security of tenure, weaken the independence of the ZHRC, and create a dangerous precedent for executive interference with independent commissions supporting democracy," JPTi said.
JPTi also noted that the ZHRC's A-status accreditation under GANHRI means questions relating to its independence and autonomy are matters of international concern.
The organisation said any response from accreditation bodies should be aimed at protecting the institution and restoring confidence in its independence rather than penalising it.
"The focus should be on restoring Ms Majome to the full and unhindered exercise of her mandate, protecting commissioners and staff, and securing guarantees of non-repetition," JPTi said.
The organisation called for urgent and coordinated action by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant UN Special Procedures mandate holders, GANHRI, the SCA, and the president of the Human Rights Council.
JPTi said the dispute extends beyond Majome's personal circumstances and raises broader concerns about the protection of national human rights institutions from executive interference, security of tenure for their leadership, and the effectiveness of Zimbabwe's domestic human rights protection framework.
Activist Allan Chipoyi has approached the Constitutional Court challenging Majome's removal from the ZHRC after Mnangagwa reassigned her to the Public Service Commission.
Chipoyi argued that the move was effected without following constitutional procedures governing the removal of heads of independent commissions.
Majome was removed after the ZHRC released a damning report about the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 public hearings, which were marred by violence against critics of the proposed amendments.