Zimbabwe: Whether critics of the government or human rights agencies are the subject of direct or covert harassment by the authorities with specific reference to persons advocating for women's rights in divorce proceedings
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE30269.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Whether critics of the government or human rights agencies are the subject of direct or covert harassment by the authorities with specific reference to persons advocating for women's rights in divorce proceedings, 1 October 1998, ZWE30269.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac6bc.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In an interview with the Research Directorate on 23 October 1998 a representative of the Bulawayo Women Lawyers' Association stated that persons who advocate for women's rights in divorce proceedings are not subjected to harassment by the authorities in Zimbabwe. The representative stated that the climate between civil society and government with respect to women's rights and human rights issues in Zimbabwe was generally constructive, involving dialogue and engagement.
A similar description of a constructive relationship between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the government of Zimbabwe is found in the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) following consideration of the initial report of Zimbabwe (UN 14 May 1998, para 122).
While the Electronic Mail & Guardian has carried reports of women's groups critical of Zimbabwean policy affecting women's rights with respect to the legal age of majority (12 Feb. 1998) and property rights in the area of land reform (18 Aug. 1998), none of the reports indicate that women's groups have been harassed (12 Feb. 1998; 18 Aug. 1998).
In a June 1997 article on NGOs, Sara Rich, a D.Phil candidate at Oxford working with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS), expresses concern over the Private Voluntary Organizations Act, legislation passed in 1995 which gave the government substantial powers over NGOs (Southern Africa Report June 1997, 17) including the mandate to register and deregister NGOs and to suspend executive committee members according to specific criteria. These powers could be exercised where the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Service had been supplied information indicating that: the NGO no longer operated according to the objective specified in its constitution; the NGO was being poorly administered; the NGO was involved in illegal activities; and where it was desirable to exercise this authority to protect the public interest.
The government used the legislation in November 1995 to remove the executive of the Association of Women's Clubs (AWC), a grass roots organization with programs for skills training and microcredit for small businesses (ibid., 18). The Supreme Court ruled in February 1997 that the government's use of the Private Voluntary Organizations Act contravened the constitution of Zimbabwe. Consequently, the women dismissed by the government in 1995 resumed leadership of the organization. One of those removed, Sekai Holland, Chairperson of the AWC described the conflict "as a fight among ZANU(PF) cliques, since most AWC members are ZANU women" (ibid.).
Sara Rich also claims that NGOs in Zimbabwe are monitored by the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) indicating that "those working in politically sensitive areas are careful not to discuss confidential issues on the phone", and that NGO members had reported being followed by and receiving unexpected visits from CIO agents (ibid., 17).
Country Reports 1997 provides numerous examples of national and international human rights organizations operating in Zimbabwe. However, it states that:
Although the Government permits local civic and human rights groups to operate, it monitors their activities closely, in particular those of the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice and Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS). (1998, 384).
For further information regarding Zimbabwean law and practice with respect to divorce, please consult ZWE29775.E of 24 July 1998.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Bulawayo Women's Lawyers Association, Bulawayo. 23 October 1998. Telphone interview with representative.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Electronic Mail & Guardian. [Johannesburg]. 12 February 1998. Netsai Moyo. "Zim Parliament Threatens Women's Rights". [Internet] <http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/98feb1/12feb-zim.html> [Accessed 20 Oct. 1998]
_____. [Johannesburg]. 18 August 1998. Mercedes Sayagues. "Zimbabwe's 'Cotton Suicide' Women". [Internet]
Southern Africa Report. [Toronto]. June 1997. Sara Rich. "The State of NGOs in Zimbabwe. Honeymoon Over?"
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. 14 May 1998. (A/53/38,paras.120-166). Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Initial reports of States parties. Zimbabwe.
