HUMANRIGHTS NEWSLETTER (JULY, 2019) A Monthly Human Rights Newsletter of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum media@hrforum.co.zw I www.hrforumzim.com Welcome We start off by looking at the cocktail of controversial legal instruments which were gazetted in July 2019. First in line is the Freedom of Information Bill [H.B. 6 of 2019 (available for download here ) which is one of the 3 proposed pieces of legislation to replace the much criticised Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). The Bill was gazetted on 5 July 2019, despite widespread criticism from MISA and MMPZ. The Government’s long-awaited Marriages Bill, which is intended to consolidate our marriage laws and bring them inline with the Constitution, was also Gazetted on 19July 2019.It can be viewed and downloaded here.The Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill meant to replace the Public Order and Security Act was ruled as being unlawful by the Parliamentary legal Committee which found that some of the provisions of the Bill are unconstitutional. Anti-Impunity Campaign The Forum continued with its anti-impunity updates to lobby against impunity and to promote accountability in our security services. The Forum issued a total of 34 summonses on behalf of victims of human rights violations in Harare, Chitungwiza, Rusape, Chinhoyi and Marondera. The cases being pursued include cases of state brutality emanating from the January ShutDown protests. Matabeleland demands proper devolution The people of Matabeleland Region called upon the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately implement proper devolution during a joint Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) validation meeting for a model Provincial and Metropolitan Councils Bill.Participants expressed hope that devolution of power would not remain a symbolic constitutional provision with nothing tangible on the ground. Read the full report here

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