the Environmental Rights Thematic Working Group (ETWG) on the 28th of November 2016. The purpose of the meeting was to present and deliberate on environmental challenges in the mining sector as identified from community complaints from the mining districts of Shurugwi and Zvishavane, make proposals about remedial activities/actions including the development of a Work Plan. This workplan will guide activities for 2017. Fig 20: Chairperson of ZHRC (fifth from left) with the members of the Environment TWG at the meeting 10.6. Civil and Political Rights Thematic Working Group Report The Thematic Working Group on Civil and Political rights remained un-operational in 2016 although activities were carried out. The Chairperson of the TWG Commissioner Dr. Kurebwa together with a member accompanied the Monitoring and Inspections Unit in monitoring the Norton By-Election in October 2016. The Norton Constituency National Assembly seat fell vacant following the expulsion of MP Christopher Mutsvangwa from ZANU PF. Section 129(1) (k) of the Constitution provides that a seat becomes vacant when a member ceases to be a member of the political party of which he/she was a member when elected to Parliament. The ZHRC monitored and observed the Norton By-Election to ensure that they were conducted efficiently and in accordance with respecting the human 42 rights and freedoms entitled to the candidates and electorate. The monitoring included pre, election and post-election periods. A member of the TWG also attended the Elections Indaba by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wherein they sought to meet all stakeholders in elections to come up with an electoral system for the General Elections in 2017. The stakeholders had to come up with a suitable voter’s roll and ZEC sought to educate stakeholders on the pros and cons of several types of voter’s rolls. A follow up meeting was held in October however, before the meeting came up with a way forward, it was interrupted by political parties who were unhappy with ZEC as an institution and eventually abandoned. 10.7. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights TWG The Thematic Working Group on Economic Social and Cultural Rights is one of the Protecting, Promoting and Enforcing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms