Page 2
The Commission Newsletter, January 31, 2017
International recognition for ZHRC
From Page 1
by State institutions
and officials. This
follows
the
assumption of the
Public Protector
role by ZHRC in
August 2013.
“The
positive
decision regarding
the application is
based on the fact
that your institution
fulfils the criteria for
Voting membership
set out in the 2012
IOI By-laws, art 6.2
(see attachment 1 –
2012 IOI By-laws).
This regards the
establishment of the
institution,
its
independence, its
mandate and powers
as well as the
requirements
regarding
the
appointment and
dismissal of the
incumbent.
In
addition,
the
information you
provided clearly
shows that your
institution supports
the purposes and
principles of the IOI
as outlined in art 2 of
the IOI By-laws,” the
letter from IOI to
ZHRC stated.
Z H R C ’ s
accreditation by IOI
will enhance its
constitutional role of
improving public
administration while
making
the
government’s actions
more open and its
administration more
accountable to the
public. Furthermore,
the Commission will
now be able to access
IOI support in terms
of training, research
and
regional
subsidies
for
p r o j e c t s .
Established in 1978,
IOI is the only
global organisation
for the co-operation
of more than 170
independent
Ombudsman
institutions from
more than 90
c o u n t r i e s
worldwide. The IOI
is organised in six
regional chapters
including Africa.
Grieving man relieved, thanks to ZHRC
O
fficials at
one of the
country’s
top hospitals were
recently made to
reverse
their
demand
for
payment from a
grieving man after
he petitioned the
Zimbabwe Human
R i g h t s
Commission
(ZHRC).
The complainant,
who is an uncle to
the late patient,
alleged that he
received several
letters of demand
from a well-known
debt
recovery
company acting on
an instruction from
Harare Central
H o s p i t a l
demanding that he
pay for the medical
bills incurred by his
late relative.
His nephew
died as a result of
injuries sustained in a
road traffic accident.
Prior to his death, the
patient had been
hospitalised
at
Harare
Central
Hospital where he
accrued bills due to
medical attention.
When the hospital
authorities started
demanding payment
from
the
complainant, he tried
to engage them and
the debt collector
without success. He
then received letters
and text messages
from the
debt
collector threatening
to attach his property
if he failed to settle
the said medical bills.
The complainant
approached ZHRC in
October
2016
whereupon
the
ZHRC contacted
Harare Hospital
ZHRC is humbled by people who appreciate assistance.
which was very cooperative. It was
agreed
between
ZHRC and the
hospital
that
procedurally, debts
incurred by people
who would have died
must be written off.
Consequently, the
complainant was
invited to Harare
Hospital where the
issue was amicably
resolved. The man is
now full of praises for
ZHRC. According to
him, the debt was
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Karukai Ratsauka
Compiler/Design & Layout: Shadrick William
Members: Misheck Bulo, Linet Sithole, Sarudzai Paungano
cancelled and he is
now a free man.
“Well Cash Debt
Collectors wanted
to
attach
my
property but your
organisation helped
me a lot,” he
acknowledged.