Commissions Watch 7/2017 ZHRC International Human Rights Day 12 Dec 2017 Furthermore, to date, the ZHRC has managed to successfully monitor twenty one (21) prisons out of the forty six prisons (46) we have in the country in line with its human rights monitoring function. This monitoring and inspections work has now been extended to cover children’s homes, older persons’ homes, Tongogara Refugee Camp, Mental Hospital Institutions such as Ingutsheni and Ngomahuru and by-elections conducted after the 2013 General elections. Resources permitting, the ZHRC would continue monitoring of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Centres country-wide. The Commission urges all citizens of Zimbabwe who are eighteen years and above, to register to vote. It is their inalienable right to elect leaders of their choice and free will. The Commission therefore has great expectations that the ascendancy of His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as the new head of state of the Republic of Zimbabwe will usher in a new dispensation focused on the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights. In his inaugural speech at the National Sports Stadium on 24 November 2017, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa assured the nation that pillars supporting democracy would be strengthened and respected and therefore, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is optimistic that all the impediments to the full enjoyment of rights and freedoms by the citizens will be equally addressed. The Commission applauds His Excellency’s commitment to reviving the economy. Enjoyment of many of the socio-economic rights such as the right to education, health, food, shelter and many others has a direct correlation with the state of the economy. An improved and functional economy therefore increases the chances of citizens enjoying these rights fully. The ZHRC also hopes for a speedy alignment of the various pieces of legislation to the Constitution, among them, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act (Chapter 10:30) and the Zimbabwe Electoral Act. As the country moves towards the 2018 General Elections, the ZHRC calls upon the new political leadership to StandUp4HumanRights in earnest and urgently implement significant political reforms to restore and consolidate democracy in Zimbabwe characterised by all fundamental human rights and freedoms that include freedom of assembly and association, freedom to demonstrate and petition peacefully, freedom of expression and the media and freedom from arbitrary arrest and of course repealing of legislation such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which have a negative bearing on the enjoyment of civil and political rights by the citizens. The ZHRC is heartened by His Excellency’s commitment to dismantling of the previous political order that tolerated unaccountability, corruption, inefficiency, arbitrary decisions and non- commitment to the rule of law. May I however, mention that despite the successes achieved so far, the Commission continues to experience considerable challenges relating to its full operationalization that hinder full execution of its mandate. These include an inadequate operational budget, limited reach and visibility due to non - decentralization to provinces and districts, lack of adequate tools of trade that include office space, computers, and vehicles and lack of enforcement mechanisms for recommendations from investigative and monitoring report outcomes. The Commission therefore continues to appeal to Government and Development Partners for more support, most critical being human resources. We need sufficient manpower to accomplish our mandate effectively. Finally, let me take this opportunity to assure you that the ZHRC is ready to partner with all duty bearers and key stakeholders in Government, Civil Society, Local Authorities, Faith Based Organisations, Traditional Leadership, fellow Constitutional Commissions, among other key