CALL FOR PUBLIC NOMINATIONS FOR PERSONS TO SERVE ON THE ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) of the Parliament of Zimbabwe is mandated in terms of sections 237, 243 and 244 of the Constitution, to nominate candidates for appointment by His Excellency, the President, to serve as Commissioners on the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission as provided for in Chapter 13 Part 5 of the Constitution.

Four (4) vacancies will arise in the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission on 6^th May 2020, which is the expiry date of the term of office for four (4) current Commissioners. Accordingly, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders is hereby calling on the public to nominate persons to be considered for appointment to this Commission.

The functions of the Commission and the person specifications are given below.

1.      ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Functions of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (sections 243 and 244 of the Constitution)The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has the following functions—

(a)    to promote awareness of and respect for human rights and freedoms at all levels of society;

(b)   to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights and freedoms;

(c)    to monitor, assess and ensure observance of human rights and freedoms;

(d)   to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as the Commission considers appropriate;

(e)    to protect the public against abuse of power and maladministration by State and public institutions and by officers of those institutions;

(f)    to investigate the conduct of any authority or person, where it is alleged that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration of Rights has been violated by that authority or person;

(g)   to secure appropriate redress, including recommending the prosecution of offenders, where human rights or freedoms have been violated;

(h)   to direct the Commissioner-General of Police to investigate cases of suspected criminal violations of human rights or freedoms and to report to the Commission on the results of any such investigation;

(i)     to recommend to Parliament effective measures to promote human rights and freedoms;

(j)     to conduct research into issues relating to human rights and freedoms and social justice; and

(k)   to visit and inspect—

·                     prisons, places of detention, refugee camps and related facilities; and

·                     places where mentally disordered or intellectually handicapped persons are detained; in order to ascertain the conditions under which persons are kept there, and to make recommendations regarding those conditions to the Minister responsible for administering the law relating to those places.

Person Specifications

·         Members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission must be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge and understanding of, and experience in, the promotion of human rights.

·         Number of vacancies – four (4).

Nomination material must consist of a typewritten submission of no more than two A4 pages long stating why the person nominated is a suitable candidate together with a completed nomination form which can be obtained at Parliament Offices (Counsel to Parliament – 3^rd Floor Room 306 or Human Resources – 4^th Floor Room 405) or downloaded from the website: www.parlzim.gov.zw

Nominations must be addressed to the Clerk of Parliament in sealed envelopes clearly marked with the name of the Commission. These may be emailed to hrvacancies@parlzim.gov.zw, posted, or hand-delivered to:

The Clerk of Parliament

Parliament of Zimbabwe

Parliament Building

Cnr. Kwame. Nkrumah Avenue and Third Street

P.O. Box CY 298

Causeway, Harare

Closing date for the submission of nominations is the end of business hours on Friday 13^th March 2020.