The Commission Newsletter, January 31, 2017 Page 7 For Human Dignity ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HEAD OFFICE NORTHERN REGION OFFICE 144 Samora Machel Avenue Harare Telephone: +263 4 293 4102 / 293 4103 / 705 426 / 705 268 / 251 079 / 701 811 / 703 616 / 251 077 / 703 596 / 251 085 SOUTHERN REGION OFFICE 127 Fife Street Bulawayo Telephone: + 263 9 64170-3 E-mail: zhrc2012@gmail.com info@zhrc.org.zw How to lodge a complaint in brief In terms of Section 7 (2) of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (General) Regulations, 2016, a complaint shall be regarded as lodged if(a) it is made orally at the office or by telephone to the office; or (b) it is reduced to writing and handed in at the off’ice; or (c) it is sent to the office by post, telefacsimile or any electronic means; or (d) the complainant completes a complaint form online via the Commission’s website and transmits it electronically to the Commission. We’re found Also find usalso on our website: on Facebook! www.zhrc.org.zw ZHRC not an NGO Z imbabwe Human Rights Co mmissi on (ZHRC) is increasingly becoming concerned about the misrepresentation of facts by the m e d i a , regarding its mandate and activities. S u c h misrepresentations, w h e t h e r deliberate or not, do not augue well for the Commission. ZHRC is a National Human R i g h t s Institution (NHRI) which was established under Section 242 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. It is an independent Commission whose main mandate is to protect, promote and enforce human rights. ZHRC was created by the Global Political Agreement which was signed by the three major political actors namely ZANU (PF) and two MDC formations in this country in 2008 and was given effect by Constitutional Amendment No. 19 and specifically section 100R of the former Constitution. Sections 242-244 of Chapter 12 of the Constitution of Z i m b a b w e Amendment (No.20) Act 2013, on the ZHRC, spell out the composition and functions of ZHRC. It is operationalised by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act Chapter 10:30 which was promulgated on 12th October, 2012. As such, ZHRC is not a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) as some sections of the media would want Zimbabweans to believe. ZHRC carries its m a n d a t e independently in line with the Paris Principles which guide the operations of NHRIs. The Commission would also like to correct a misconception doing rounds that parliament has in the past ‘ignored’ its annual reports. The truth of the matter is that ZHRC submits the reports to the line Ministry which is the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and it is the discretion of the Minister responsible, who in this case is Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to present them to Parliament. Although none of the reports from ZHRC has found its way to Parliament, the Commission would not want to speculate the reasons for non tabling. ZHRC urges the media to always v e r i f y information which they are unsure of from the Commission to avoid spreading i nc o r r e c t information.