By Staff Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising a partnership to strengthen the protection of human rights, promote administrative justice and improve the referral of rights-related cases from grassroots communities to national institutions.
The MoU establishes structured referral pathways, joint research initiatives and coordinated public awareness programmes designed to ensure that community-level testimonies of human rights and administrative justice violations are documented, escalated and addressed through recognised national mechanisms.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held in Harare, ZHRC chairperson Ms Jessie Majome said the agreement builds on an existing working relationship between the commission and the church, while enhancing cooperation in case referrals and public education.
“The Memorandum of Understanding that we have signed with the Zimbabwe Council of Churches is a formal expression of our intention to collaborate with each other,” Ms Majome said.
“Its emphasis is on the Zimbabwe Council of Churches referring cases to us, cases of either human rights violations or administrative justice violations.”
Ms Majome said churches provide an effective platform for human rights education because of their extensive reach and trusted role within communities.
“It will also be strong on joint research as well as awareness-raising of the public because the church already has ready audiences for the promotion of human rights work. The more we know about our human rights, the more we are able to assert them,” she said.
She said the protection of human rights was not the sole responsibility of the State, but a shared duty involving citizens and institutions alike.
