Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Strategic Plan 2015-2020 10. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES The Commission has identified the following issues as the key strategic priorities to be taken into consideration during the process of crafting the inaugural 5-year Strategic Plan of the ZHRC. Contributions made by stakeholders during the consultation process building up to the Strategic Plan were synthesized into thirty two (32) major strategic priorities described below. Details of the strategies, programs and actions to be undertaken in respect of these Strategic Priorities, among other considerations, are set out in the Genesis Global Finance Log frames and Balanced Scorecard matrices that form part of the Strategic Plan. A. CORE MANDATE PERSPECTIVE Strategic Goal - To mobilise financial, infrastructural and technological resources required to fully establish and operate the ZHRC, and position the Commission as a competent national champion for the advancement of human rights and administrative justice. 10.1. INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMISSION Section 235 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of independent commissions that may not be subjected to the direction or control of anyone. The ZHRC, as such independent commission, is established in terms of Section 242 of the Constitution. The Commission plans to protect and defend its independence by discharging its mandate without fear or favour. A number of factors can, however, impede the ability of the ZHRC to operate without undue influence and/or interference from external forces. The Commission is aware of these threats and plans to eliminate all sources of risk to the absolute independence of the Commission, free of external influence or interference; viz: 10.1.1. Funding-related threats to independence – The nature of funding available to ZHRC may pose serious threats to the ability of the Commission to undertake its functions without external influence or interference. The primary source of funding for the Commission’s operating expenditure shall be the Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund. Sections 9 (2), 322 and 325 of the Constitution provide for adequate funding of the Commission from Treasury resources. ZHRC is a sub-vote in the books of the Ministry of Finance and submits a proposed budget through the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (“MJLPA”) for review and allocation by Treasury. Admittedly the independence of ZHRC may be compromised by this practice. The Commission should ideally be considered as a direct vote, and should present and defend its own requirements to Parliament for approval, with the Ministry of Finance responsible only for advising and disbursing the approved allocations. The Commission shall therefore work towards immediate implementation of all Constitutional ideals in compliance with Section 324 of the Constitution, by proceeding to submit direct budgetary proposals and presenting them to Parliament in accordance with Section 325(2), even before 20