2.
Mandate of the Commission
2.1
The ZHRC is established as an Independent Commission in terms of
Section 242 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.1 The functions of the ZHRC
are set out in terms of Section 243 (1)(a) –(k) which include among others:
to promote awareness of and respect for human rights and freedoms at all
levels of society; to promote the protection, development and attainment of
human rights and freedoms; to receive and consider complaints from the
public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers
appropriate, and to investigate the conduct of any authority or person where
it is alleged that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the
Declaration of Rights has been violated by that authority or person.
Furthermore, the ZHRC can recommend the prosecution of offenders,
where human rights or freedoms have been violated.
2.2
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act [Chapter 10:30] in Section
9, empowers the ZHRC to conduct investigations into allegations of human
rights violations. In particular, Section 9 of the ZHRC Act provides as
follows:
(1)The Commission may on its own initiative investigate any action
or omission on the part of any authority or person that constitutes or
may constitute a human rights violation.
(2) Any person affected by any actual or perceived human rights
violation arising out of any action or omission on the part of any
authority or person may make a written complaint to the Commission
requesting it to investigate such action or omission.
(3) When a person by whom a complaint might have been made
under this section has died or is for any reason unable to act for
himself or herself, the complaint may be made by his or her legal
representative or a member of his or her family or such other person
as the Commission considers suitable to represent him or her.
1
Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act 20/13 herein referred to as the “Constitution”
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