2nd Respondent addressed to the Permanent Secretary seeking
guidance on the policies that address the issue of child participation at
political rallies. The Commission has since made one written follow up.
1.2 The complainants are Teachers’ Unions established in terms of Section
65 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013
(hereinafter referred to as the Constitution) and duly recognised by the
Public Service Association representing Secondary and Primary
teachers employed by the Government of Zimbabwe.
1.3 In determining its role in this matter, the ZHRC considered that the set
of facts gives rise to violation of human rights enshrined in Chapter 4,
Part 2 of the Declaration of Rights in the Constitution of Zimbabwe,
particularly Children’s rights in terms of section 81 (1), (f) and (h),
freedom of assembly and association enshrined in section 58, right to
equality and non-discrimination in terms of section 56 and the right to
education provided for in terms of section 75.
2 Detailed background of complaint:
2.2 Complainants allege that they have received, monitored and recorded
systematic violations of fundamental human rights by ZANU PF party,
particularly violations of Section 81 (f) which guarantees children’s rights
and provides that children must not be compelled to take part in any
political activity. Further, complainant alleges violation of Section 58
which enshrines freedom of assembly and association.
2.3 Some of the schools where the alleged violation of children’s rights by
the respondent were recorded are Kanyemba Secondary School in
Mashonaland Central, St Johns Primary School in Manicaland, all public
schools in Bulawayo and schools in Matobo and Mzingwane Districts in
Matabeleland South. It is alleged that school children were being
exposed to hate speech and inflammatory language at ZANU PF rallies.
2.4 It is further alleged that at one point the ZANU PF Secretary for Women’s
Affairs made statements to the effect that ‘zezuru are unconquerable’
which entails that the Zezuru tribe is superior to others and cannot be
defeated. This is in violation of Section 56 of the Constitution which
Page 2 of 17