viii
3 Operating environment ........................................................................................................................... 33
Part A: Overview of compliance with human rights obligations .............................................. 33
3.1 Interaction with human rights charter and treaty based organs................................ 33
3.2 Compliance with and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms ........................ 35
3.2.1 Law reform ......................................................................................................................... 35
3.2.2 Institutional reforms ...................................................................................................... 35
3.3 Social and economic rights ......................................................................................................... 36
3.3.1 The right to shelter.......................................................................................................... 36
3.3.2 Right to water .................................................................................................................... 36
3.4 Civil and political rights ............................................................................................................... 37
3.4.1 Security of the person .................................................................................................... 37
3.4.2 Respect for pre-trial rights........................................................................................... 39
3.4.3 Right to equal protection of the law ......................................................................... 40
3.4.4 Right to an effective remedy and representation by lawyer of choice ...... 42
Part B: Compliance to foster participation .......................................................................................... 43
3.5 Freedom of assembly and association ................................................................................... 43
3.5.1 Regulation of Public Gatherings and Meetings .................................................... 44
3.5.1.1 Notice for gatherings or meetings......................................................... 44
3.5.1.2 Gatherings exempt from notification................................................... 44
3.5.1.3 Procedure for clearance ............................................................................ 45
3.5.1.4 Powers of police ........................................................................................... 45
3.5.2 Provisions restricting gatherings or meetings .................................................... 45
3.6 Association ........................................................................................................................................ 46
3.6.1 Purported ban of NGOs.................................................................................................. 46
3.6.2 Media attacks, raids, arrests and prosecutions of CSOs ................................... 46
3.6.2.1 Media attacks ................................................................................................. 47
3.6.2.2 Raids, and seizure of property ................................................................ 47
3.6.2.3 Arrests, prosecution.................................................................................... 47
3.6.3 Free association and attacks on human rights lawyers ................................... 48
3.6.4 Electorate woes ................................................................................................................ 49
3.7 Freedom of expression and right to information .............................................................. 49
3.7.1 Imparting information ................................................................................................... 50
3.7.1.1 Experiences of individual HRDs ............................................................. 50
3.7.1.2 Regulation of the media............................................................................. 51
3.7.1.3 Registration of media houses .................................................................. 51
3.7.1.4 Accreditation of Journalists ..................................................................... 53
3.7.2 Media monitoring ............................................................................................................ 54
3.7.2.1 Equitable access – but the jingles continue ....................................... 55
3.7.2.2 Them and us – churning out hate speech........................................... 55
3.7.2.3 ZEC and media monitoring during elections .................................... 56
3.7.2.4 Implementation measures and other issues..................................... 57
4 Election dispute resolution mechanisms ......................................................................................... 58
4. 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 58
4.2 Election dispute resolution in Zimbabwe ............................................................................. 58