Zimbabwe’s security sector to provide civilian oversight on the security sector.19 Key
functions of the NSC, which is required to meet at least once each month, included
reviewing national policies on security, defense and law and order as well as ensuring that
all operations of the security forces comply with the constitution and other laws.20
The Zimbabwe Defense Forces regulations instituted in 1988 strictly prohibit partisan
conduct or participation in party politics. Statutory Instrument 152 of 1988, Defense
(Regular Force) (Officers) Regulations, section 90 provides:
Active participation in politics:
(1) No officer shall commit any act which is prescribed by the section as being an act
constituting active participation in politics –
(a) Canvassing any person in support of or otherwise actively assisting an
organization or movement of a political character;
(b) Displaying or wearing rosettes, favors, symbols, posters, placards or like
articles having a political significance;
(c) Attending a political meeting or assembly when wearing a uniform of the
Defense Forces or any part thereof likely to identify him with the Defense Forces:
provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to an officer who
attends such a meeting or assembly in uniform in the course of his duties;
(d) Publishing views of a political character or causing them to be published in
speeches, broadcasts, letters to the press, articles, leaflets, posters placards,
books or otherwise.
Similarly for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), article 48 of the schedule to the Police
Act provides:
(1) Actively participating in politics. (2) Without derogation from the generality of
subparagraph (1), a Regular Force member shall be deemed to be actively
participating in politics if he— (a) joins or associates himself with an organization
or movement of a political character; or (b) canvasses any person in support of, or
otherwise actively assists, an organization or movement of a political character; or
(c) displays or wears rosettes, favors, clothing, symbols, posters, placards or like
19
National Security Council Act, 2009.
20
National Security Council Act, 2009, art. 4.
13
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH │ MAY 2013
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