III. Administrative Services
The presence of local government and other key service departments, including
security departments, jointly referred to as the District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) in
Tsholotsho district was also commendable. This helped in the rapid coordination and
delivery of basic goods and services including relief aid.
a. Key Issues of Concern
The UN Guiding Principle 182 states that, at the minimum and regardless of the
circumstances, States shall provide IDPs with essential food and potable water, basic
shelter and housing, essential medical services and sanitation. Although the
Government of Zimbabwe tried to ensure that the basic human rights of the affected
communities were met, the ZHRC notes with concern the shortcomings on the part
of the State in fulfilling these rights. Some rights that have not been fulfilled include
the right to basic shelter, essential medical services and sanitation. The chart below
highlights the rights concerned and some of the inadequacies as revealed by the
field research. However, it should be noted that some of the inadequacies
highlighted existed prior to the flooding although that does not detract from the
Government’s duty to fulfil the rights in issue.
Figure 5: Issues of Priority for the flood victims
2
UN Guidelines on IDPs.
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