A United Nations (UN) human rights expert, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule has called on Zimbabwe to embrace and safeguard democracy, saying that the country’s change in leadership provided an opportunity to promote political tolerance, accountability and bring an end to impunity for human rights violations.
In a statement, Voule said the coming of the new dispensation after the November 2017 events provided the country with a new opportunity to improve the democratic processes.
“The change in leadership in Zimbabwe two years ago and its promised ‘new dispensation’ – which reaffirms the aspiration to bring the country forward in terms of democratic processes, civic space and the realisation of human rights for all – must be put into action now,” Voule said.
“The Government has the unenviable challenge to resolve a profound and complex economic, political and social crisis in the country. To succeed it will need the support of the international community,” Voule said.
“My role is to encourage the authorities that genuine dialogue with the political class and the population, including protest movements, is the only way forward to resolve such a crisis.”
Voule, however, expressed concern over the excessive use of force by police and military during protests, stating that it had a profoundly negative impact on the minds of the population. He said that military forces should only be deployed in exceptional circumstances.
“In cases where there have been human rights violations committed by police or the military, including in instances of the excessive use of force, it is vital that perpetrators are held accountable,” Voule said.
“To foster impunity is to foster distrust among the population, alienating them from the Government, and quashing their hopes of meaningful change in the future.”
Voule, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, concluded a 10-day official visit to Zimbabwe on Friday, the first such mission to the country by an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council.
