Fast Track Land Reform in Zimbabwe
- Preview
- Date recorded
- May 31, 2002
- Category
- Displacements
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report considers the human rights implications of the so-called fast track process of land redistribution in Zimbabwe, under which the government has revised the constitution and amended legislation in order to allow it to acquire commercial farms compulsorily and without compensation, and the land occupations that have accompanied it since early 2000.
Human Rights July 2019 Newsletter
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jul 31, 2019
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The newsletter talks about the human rights developments in the country and keeps people informed on how "The Forum" worked for the realization and enjoyment of the rights of Zimbabwean people in the month of July.
Lancaster House Agreement
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 1, 1980
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The Lancaster House Agreement was a political consensus which brought the independence of Zimbabwe from Rhodesian rule. The agreement came into being after a series of negotiations between the nationalist parties and the Rhodesian Front between September and December 1979. The Agreement was facilitated by the British and the American governments to bring to an end the 14 year war in Rhodesia between the Rhodesians and the guerrilla movements.
ZESN August Issue 2016
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Aug 31, 2016
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Elections
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
New Amendments to the electoral Act falls short of expectations.
ZPP MMR January 2017
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 31, 2017
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Trauma
- Summary
The month of January recorded many violations which were politically motivated. Most of the reported cases were harassment and intimidation of opposition political activists. Other prominent cases were those of deprivation of state sponsored food aid and inputs for farming.
ZPP MMR June 2017
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jun 30, 2017
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
A season of Rallies: Dominant human rights violations recorded during June 2017 revolve around preparations for the presidential youth interface rallies, Heroes Day commemorations, the upcoming Chiwundura by-election, continued barring of students from attending classes, harassment of vendors and discrimination during food aid distribution.
ZPP MMR September 2016
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Sep 30, 2016
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Social and citizen movements continue to gather momentum although in the month under review their activities have been restricted by the ban on protests affecting Harare. The social movements and unions like #Tajamuka, #ThisFlag, #ThisGown, National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ), Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) and have been recently joined by the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), a coalition of 18 political parties.
ZPP Sept 2015 MMR
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Sep 30, 2015
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Politics & Governance
- Trauma
- Summary
The report stresses how the political environment continues to be stressed with various coercion phenomena manifesting around several sticky issues thus support or starve.
‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’, CLOSED FOR DISSENT CRACKDOWN IN ZIMBABWE DURING THE NATIONAL STAY-AWAY 14-16 JANUARY 2019
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 16, 2019
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Politics & Governance
- Riots
- Summary
This briefing analyses events and the context, and documents key human rights concerns in months prior to, during and following the national stay-away protests which started on 14 January 2019 and ended on 16 January 2019. The findings are based on interviews with witnesses, victims, victims’ families, human rights defenders and activists, journalists, lawyers and Zimbabwean non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as desk-based research.
“A Woman’s Place is in the Home?” – Gender Based Violence and Opposition Politics in Zimbabwe.
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2006
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Women
- Summary
This report, examining the violent and turbulent years between 2000 and 2006, shows that Zimbabwe has been no exception in this regard.
“Bullets for Each of You” State-Sponsored Violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 Elections
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jun 30, 2008
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Elections
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report, based on investigations in Zimbabwe, describes the scale of the abuses and identifies those responsible—officials from ZANU-PF, often working through proxy forces of so-called war veterans and youth militia, backed by members of the armed forces and police. Local institutions have identified at least 2,000 beatings and cases of torture.
“Clear the Filth” : Mass Evictions and Demolitions in Zimbabwe
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Sep 11, 2005
- Category
- Displacements
- Murambatsvina
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report tells the stories of the mass evictions and house demolitions and the continuing suffering of those affected, mostly in the words of victims. Women, children and men recount how they were forced to destroy their own houses, often at gunpoint.
“Our Hands Are Tied” : Erosion of the Rule of Law in Zimbabwe
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Nov 30, 2008
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report finds that legal accountability and the rule of law in Zimbabwe have been seriously eroded under the ZANU-PF government through its interference in the criminal justice system. It shows that victims of human rights abuses—mainly MDC supporters—continue to be denied their right to justice and an effective remedy.
“Resolute action to immediately revive the grassroots structures?” Or Crimes Against Humanity?
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2008
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Politics & Governance
- Trauma
- Summary
In this report, the Human Rights Forum made the very strong allegation that the Government of Zimbabwe is complicit at the least in the commission of Crimes against Humanity.
“They Beat Me like a Dog” Political Persecution of Opposition Activists and Supporters in Zimbabwe
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Aug 31, 2008
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report describes abuses by ZANU-PF that continue to take place despite ongoing negotiations between the two parties. Hundreds of MDC activists who fled the violence in the weeks before the June 27 runoff remain in hiding while “war veterans” and youth militia continue to terrorize villagers in the rural areas.
“You Will Be Thoroughly Beaten” The Brutal Suppression of Dissent in Zimbabwe
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Nov 30, 2006
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report highlights the repressive tactics that the government has used in the past year to suppress the increasing political and economic discontent among the population. The police have arbitrarily arrested hundreds of civil society activists during routine meetings or peaceful demonstrations, often with excessive force, and in some cases subjected those in custody to severe beatings that amounted to torture, and other mistreatment.
1. What is a Constitution
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The constitution of a country is a set of rules that define the nature and extent of the country’s government. It is sometimes referred to as the country’s fundamental or basic law, and has supremacy over all other laws.
2. A Preamble to a Constitution
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The preamble to a constitution is an introduction to the constitution and usually bears the formal heading “Preamble”. It presents the history behind the constitution’s enactment, and sometimes sets out the nation’s core principles and values.
3. Founding Principles of a Constitution
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Founding Principles of the Constitution can be described as: “those values that citizens commit themselves to their adherence. They are the foundations of the Constitution and they reflect the manner in which the people desire to be governed.”
4. The Constitution and the Rule of Law
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Our current Constitution states that public officers owe a duty to everyone in Zimbabwe to observe and uphold the rule of law [section 18(1a)], and the “Kariba Draft” Constitution contains a similar provision.Fundamentally it means that people’s rights and obligations must be determined by laws rather than by individuals or groups of individuals exercising an arbitrary discretion.
5 points for new government
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Feb 28, 2009
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The report emphasizes on Putting HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE TOP OF THE POLITICAL AGENDA and Amnesty International is also concerned about the deteriorating economic and social conditions in Zimbabwe. In particular, the organisation is concerned about the increased food insecurity, collapse of public health, and failing education system.
5. Citizenship
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Citizens form the basis of every independent State because a State is an abstract concept comprising the people who live within a defined area. Of the people who constitute a State it is the citizens who have a right to determine who will govern them and, sometimes, to decide the form which their government should take.
6. A Declaration or Bill of Rights
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2018
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The purpose of a Declaration or Bill of Rights is to protect the rights of citizens and ordinary people living in the country. Although generally these rights must not be overridden by the government, some have to be qualified.
7. Social and Economic and Cultural Rights
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Here, when we refer to “social, economic and cultural rights” [“SEC rights”] we mean second-generation rights as well as any third-generation rights which are capable of being defined reasonably clearly.
8. Separation of Powers
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
In essence, the doctrine of separation of powers is that for a free and democratic society to exist there must be a clear separation between the three branches of government, namely: The Executive,The Legislature and The Judicial Branch.
9. Executive Powers
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The Executive, the branch of government headed by the President, is currently the most powerful of the three branches. The President and his Ministers control the Defence Forces, the Police and the civil administration; they represent the country in its dealings with foreign governments; and generally they are responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of the country. The Executive is the branch of government which impinges most frequently on the lives of ordinary people.
10 18 Gonese et al v President et al
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Oct 31, 2018
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This is an application in terms of s 167(2)(d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe for the Court to determine whether Parliament or the President has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation. The applicants aver that the respondents have failed to do so in respect of the presentation and passage of the Local Government Amendment Act No. 8 of 2016 in Parliament. It is further averred that presenting and passing a Bill in contravention of the Constitution amounts to a failure to fulfil a constitutional obligation.
10. Legislature
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The legislative branch of government is the branch which makes laws for the country. A legislature embodies the idea that people are the source of political power in the State and should control the law-making process.
11. The Judiciary
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The judiciary is one of the three main branches of government, the other two being the Legislature (i.e. Parliament) and the Executive (the President, Ministers, the Public Service, the Police and Defence Forces). The judiciary consists of all judicial officers, namely, the people such as judges and magistrates who decide civil and criminal cases in courts.
12. Security Services and Security Service Commissions
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The disciplined services – the Defence Forces (consisting of the Army and the Air Force), the Police Force and the Prison Service – are the subject of separate parts of the present Constitution.
13. The Public Service and Public Service Commission
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
As the name implies, the Public Service exists to serve the public. Public servants are paid by the public and should serve the public impartially and in a professional manner, irrespective of their own political views or those of the members of the public with whom they are dealing.
14. Constitutional Commissions
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2013
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Four constitutional commissions are established by the Zimbabwean Constitution: • The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission • The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission • The Zimbabwe Media Commission • The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
31 August 2016 Newsletter
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Aug 31, 2016
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ZHRC speaks to human rights victims
31 August 2017 Commission Newsletter
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Aug 31, 2017
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ZHRC’s ability to go ‘where the angels fear to tread’ impresses Speaker
31 January 2017 Newsletter
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 31, 2017
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Newly appointed Executive Secretary hopes to leave a mark
54 18 City of Harare v Mushoriwa
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Sep 20, 2018
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court granting a provisional order in favour of the respondent pursuant to an urgent chamber application filed by the latter.
2008 MDGsOfficialList
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 15, 2008
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
These are Goals and targets from the Millennium declaration and indicators for monitoring progress progress.
A Case for National Dialogue in Zimbabwe
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 2, 2019
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This brief provides insights on what constitute a national dialogue, why it is necessary, its success potentials, challenges and possible steps towards an inclusive process in Zimbabwe. Towards a step in the right direction, President Emerson Mnangagwa, on 22 January 2019, called on political parties, churches and civic society leaders to a national dialogue platform.
A CRITICAL REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF ZIMBABWE’S ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL, 2011
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2011
- Category
- Elections
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This is a review by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (“ZESN”) of the proposed amendments to Zimbabwe’s legislation on the management and conduct of elections in the country. The Electoral Amendment Bill, 2011 (hereafter, “the Bill”) seeks to amend the Electoral Act (Chapter 2: 13) (hereafter, “the Act”).
A Fractured Nation
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jul 30, 2010
- Category
- Displacements
- Murambatsvina
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report follows up on previous OM research conducted by SPT in 2005 and 2006 and build on narratives of the lives of particular families and informal settlements from 2005 to 2010. The story is a grim one with many of those we remembered now prematurely dead, and others living in unspeakable poverty.
A time for Accountability 081031
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2008
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
This report is based on Amnesty International’s field research, interviews with victims of human rights violations, their families and other witnesses, health workers, reports by other organizations and media reports.The report outlines the context in which human rights violations have been taking place in Zimbabwe and describes patterns of violations as illustrated by cases. It focuses on violations that took place after the 29 March 2008 elections, as well as human rights violations committed by two units within the Zimbabwe Republic Police in 2007.
Access to Information & Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10 27], Jan 2005
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 7, 2005
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To provide members of the public with a right of access to records and information held by public bodies; to make public bodies accountable by giving the public a right to request correction of misrepresented personal information; to prevent the unauthorised collection, use or disclosure of personal information by public bodies; to protect personal privacy; to provide for the regulation of the mass media; to establish a Media and Information Commission and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental to the foregoing.
Access to Information & Protection Of Privacy Act [Chapter 10 27], March 2002
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Mar 15, 2002
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To provide members of the public with a right of access to records and information held by public bodies; to make public bodies accountable by giving the public a right to request correction of misrepresented personal information; to prevent the unauthorised collection, use or disclosure of personal information by public bodies; to protect personal privacy; to provide for the regulation of the mass media; to establish a Media and Information Commission and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental to the foregoing.
Access to Information & Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10 27], Oct 2003
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Oct 10, 2003
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To provide members of the public with a right of access to records and information held by public bodies; to make public bodies accountable by giving the public a right to request correction of misrepresented personal information; to prevent the unauthorised collection, use or disclosure of personal information by public bodies; to protect personal privacy; to provide for the regulation of the mass media; to establish a Media and Information Commission and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental to the foregoing.
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10 27], 2008
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 11, 2008
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To provide members of the public with a right of access to records and information held by public bodies; to make public bodies accountable by giving the public a right to request correction of misrepresented personal information; to prevent the unauthorised collection, use or disclosure of personal information by public bodies; to protect personal privacy; to provide for the regulation of the mass media; to establish a Media and Information Commission and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental to the foregoing.
Acquisition of Farm Equipment or Material Act [Chapter 18 23] As Amended
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Sep 3, 2004
- Category
- Displacements
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To provide for the acquisition of farm equipment or material not being used for agricultural purposes; to amend section 5 of the Land Acquisition Act [Chapter 20:10]; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.
Acts of 2017 complete list, with hyperlinks
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 31, 2017
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The table lists all Acts passed by the Parliament of Zimbabwe during 2017. Each Act is hyperlinked to the relevant webpage on the Veritas website www.veritaszim.net
Acts to be Aligned (2017.04) 0 (1)
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Apr 30, 2017
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
STATUTES REQUIRING CONSTITUTIONAL ALIGNMENT
Adding insult to injury. A Preliminary Report on Human Rights Violations on Commercial Farms, 2000 to 2005.
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Apr 30, 2007
- Category
- Displacements
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Widespread human rights violations were inflicted upon white farmers and black farm workers by agents of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government during the seizures of whiteowned farms from 2000 to 2005.
Administration of Estates Act
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 1997
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
AN ACT to consolidate and amend the law relating to the administration of the estates of deceased persons, minors, mentally disordered or defective persons and persons absent from Zimbabwe, and to provide for the control of moneys belonging to persons whose whereabouts are unknown.
Administration of Estates Act [Chapter 6 01]
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Nov 1, 1997
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
AN ACT to consolidate and amend the law relating to the administration of the estates of deceased persons, minors, mentally disordered or defective persons and persons absent from Zimbabwe, and to provide for the control of moneys belonging to persons whose whereabouts are unknown.
Administrative Justice Act as at 15 September 2016
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Sep 15, 2016
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To provide for the right to administrative action and decisions that are lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair; to provide for the entitlement to written reasons for administrative action or decisions; to provide for relief by a competent court against administrative action or decisions contrary to the provisions of this Act; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jan 30, 2007
- Category
- Elections
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The Charter seeks to entrench in the Continent a political culture of change of power based on the holding of regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies.
African Export Import Bank (Membership of Zimbabwe and Branch Office Agreement) Act, 2005
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Mar 24, 2006
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
ACT To enable effect to be given within Zimbabwe to the Agreement for the Establishment of the African Export-Import Bank and the Agreement between the African Export-Import Bank and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe concerning the Location of the Branch Office of the African Export-Import Bank; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected therewith.
AfricanYouthCharter
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Jul 6, 2006
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The Charter has 31 Articles adopted by the Seventh Ordinary sessions of the Assembly held in Banjul, The Gambia on the 2nd of July 2006.
Agricultural Land Settlement Act [Chapter 20 01] as Amended March 2004
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Mar 19, 2004
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
AN ACT to provide for the establishment of an Agricultural Land Settlement Board and to prescribe the functions and duties thereof; to provide for the settlement of persons on, and the alienation of, agricultural land; and to provide for matters incidental to and connected with the foregoing.
All Over Again : Human Rights Abuses and Flawed Electoral Conditions in Zimbabwe’s Coming General Elections
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Mar 31, 2008
- Category
- 2008 & Beyond
- Elections
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
On March 29, 2008, Zimbabweans will participate in presidential, parliamentary, senatorial, and local government elections synchronized for the first time, following changes to Zimbabwe’s constitution in September 2007. As the elections near, all indications are that once again the people of Zimbabwe will not be able to freely exercise their civil and political rights and vote for the candidates of their choice.
Amendments to Indigenisation & Economic Empowerment Act from Finance Act of 14 March 2018
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Mar 14, 2018
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
The Finance Act, 2018 (No. 1 of 2018), was published as law in the Zimbabwean Government Gazette Extraordinary dated 14th March 2018 . Section 42 of this 46-page Act makes major amendments to the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
Amendments to the Criminal Procedure & Evidence Amendment Bill, 2015 13 Oct 2015
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Oct 13, 2015
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
Amendments to Clauses two, three, six, twelve, Forteen, eighteen and twenty-four.
Amendments to the General Laws Amendment Bill, 2015
- Preview
- Date recorded
- Dec 31, 2015
- Category
- Politics & Governance
- Summary
NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS General Laws Amendment Bill, (H.B. 3, 2015)