TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN ZIMBABWE
…as Judge condemns inhumane prison conditions
The Zimbabwe Peace Project acknowledges a significant
development in the promotion of human rights and
dignity, as a recent High Court ruling by Justice Sijabuliso
Siziba ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs and prison
authorities to immediately improve the inhumane and
degrading conditions in holding cells at Mutare Central
Police Station and Mutare Remand Prison. The case was
brought by Michael Mundandishe who was appalled by
the conditions following his arrest on August 1, 2024, and
was represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. The court found that his detention conditions violated Section
50(1)(c) of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment. The judge instructed authorities to
install flushing toilets, washing basins, provide toilet paper, and ensure privacy in bathing facilities. This landmark judgment
reflects long-standing concerns raised by human rights defenders over poor prison conditions, which includes
overcrowding, disease outbreaks, and lack of basic hygiene facilities, as highlighted in past reports and affidavits from
inmates across the country. The ruling is progressive as it upholds constitutional rights, reaffirms the state's duty to treat all
persons including detainees with dignity, and sets a legal precedent for improved prison standards. By recognizing the
humanity of inmates and pushing state actors toward compliance, the ruling reinforces the principle that even in detention,
human dignity must not be compromised. ZPP urgently calls on the Ministry of Home Affairs and prison authorities to fully
comply with the High Court order and immediately uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations by
ensuring that detention conditions meet the standards of human dignity, as required under Section 50 of Zimbabwe’s
Constitution and international human rights law.
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE PUBLISHES FINDINGS ON ... ZIMBABWE
The UN Human Rights Committee issued on 28 March 2025, its findings on Zimbabwe (among other countries) after
examining the State parties during the latest session. The findings contain the Committee’s main concerns and
recommendations on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as positive
aspects.
Highlights on Zimbabwe include:
The Committee welcomed the abolition of the death penalty but expressed concern that it can still be imposed during a
state of emergency under clause 7 of the Death Penalty Abolition Act. It also regretted that individuals sentenced to death
before the abolition have not had their sentences commuted. The Committee urged the State party to fully eliminate the
death penalty by repealing clause 7, commuting existing death sentences to terms of imprisonment, and acceding to the
Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Committee was concerned that the Private Voluntary Organization Amendment Bill 2024, which aims to curb money
laundering and financing of terrorism, could potentially restrict civic space and have a chilling effect on the exercise of the
right to freedom of association and assembly. It further raised its concern about the extremely grave penalties, including
loss of citizenship, denial of the right to vote and the death penalty, under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform)
Amendment Act (the ‘Patriot Act’) of 2022, which criminalises anyone who “wilfully injur[es] the sovereignty and national
interest of Zimbabwe” and those who promote calls for economic sanctions against the country. The Committee urged the
State Party to consider abandoning the enactment of the Private Voluntary Organisation Bill and returning the Bill to
Parliament. It should also convene wide consultations with relevant stakeholders to align the Bill with the Constitution and
international standards. The Committee also called on Zimbabwe to repeal provisions of section 22 A of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Amendment Act of 2022 that impede the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.
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