Page 5 The Commission Newsletter, January 31, 2017 Stakeholders contribute to the monitoring of institutions T he ZHRC held a fe ed ba ck meeting on the 1st of December 2016 at Cresta Oasis Hotel with seventy five stakeholder re p re s en t a t i v e s from the Mental Health and Prisons Institutions. The meeting was attended by representatives from Parliament, Government, Development Partners and Civil S o c i e t y Organisations. The objectives of the meeting were to share findings on the missions conducted by the ZHRC to Mental Health Institutions and Prisons so as to map a way forward on how prisons and Mental Health Institutions can be improved, as well as to come up with a s h a r e d understanding on the conditions of prisons and mental health institutions and how best to address the challenges they experience. Stakeholders dialogued on the financial constraints being experienced by the institutions. This has negatively affected the provision of basic necessities for the welfare of prisoners and mental health patients. Mental Health Institutions indicated that shortages of sedative drugs present a threat to both the patients and health personnel. Prisons highlighted that inmates did not have adequate food, clothing, bedding, toiletries, detergents and medication. Some prison institutions faced water challenges, which needed urgent attention. All the challenges raised were related to limited disbursement of funds provided by Treasury to these institutions. The outcome of the meeting was a draft action plan with recommendations to relevant stakeholders t o w a r d s improvement of conditions in prisons and health facilities. A Prison Official giving a presentation at the Consultative Meeting on Prisons and Mental Health Institutions Findings ZHRC comes to pensioner’s rescue T h e Zimbabwe Human R i g h t s Commission (ZHRC) continues to impact positively on people’s rights by successfully h a n d l i n g complaints brought before it. One such case is that of a pensioner who retired from the City of Harare in 2014 after reaching the age of 60, who had been failing to get his pension benefits from his former employer. By May 2016, he had not yet received his pension although in a letter dated 18 March 2014 he had been advised that the Council had engaged the Local Authorities Pension Fund (LAPF) to expedite the processing of his pension. The pensioner alleged that he was being referred back and forth by Harare City Council and LAPF with the former stating that he should claim his pension from LAPF. LAPF, in turn, argued that Council was not remitting pension contributions for its employees over the years so the complainant could EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Chairperson: Karukai Ratsauka Compiler/Design & Layout: Shadrick William Members: Misheck Bulo, Linet Sithole, Sarudzai Paungano not claim from it. The complainant viewed the conduct of the City of Harare and LAPF as a violation of his right to property, in particular pension benefits as provided for in terms of Section 71 of the Constitution, hence he lodged a complaint with ZHRC. ZHRC engaged the City of Harare and LAPF in May 2016. A follow-up was made in June 2016 and the complainant was paid his pension on 19 July 2016.