President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe is facing mounting pressure to address human rights violations involving the country’s security forces.
Critics accuse him of stalling the appointment of commissioners for the Independent Complaints Commission (ICC), raising doubts about his commitment to addressing these abuses.
Last year, Mnangagwa signed the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Act, which aimed to investigate and prosecute members of the security services for misconduct. The move came in response to numerous complaints of human rights abuses and allegations of partisan behaviour by security personnel while carrying out their duties.
However, the president has been slow to appoint commissioners for the ICC, fuelling skepticism about his sincerity and political will to address the issue. In response, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have given Mnangagwa a deadline of November 30 to provide answers or face legal action.
The ZLHR, through lawyer Kossam Ncube, accused the president of violating section 6 of the Independent Complaints Commission Act. They argued that the delay in appointing commissioners undermines the constitutional protection of the public, as the complaints mechanism remains compromised without the necessary personnel to handle complaints against errant members of the security services.
Ncube, representing Harare resident Nesbert Munyuki, emphasized that legal remedies would be pursued to ensure grievances are addressed. The threat of a lawsuit reflects growing frustration among activists and human rights advocates who believe the government is failing to hold the security forces accountable for their actions.
Political analyst Romeo Chasara underscored the lack of political will to address these human rights abuses, stating that the government has repeatedly shown reluctance to take action against security personnel implicated in such violations. The failure to hold violators accountable perpetuates a climate of impunity and erodes public trust in the authorities.
Zimbabwe has faced international scrutiny due to ongoing reports of human rights abuses. Arbitrary arrests, detentions, abductions, and torture allegedly perpetrated by members of the security forces have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations. While the government denies these allegations, calls for an independent investigation persist.
