The Government has invited a special UN envoy to come and assess the country’s achievements and challenges in relation to the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country.
The envoy, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule will be in Zimbabwe from 17 to 27 September and he will visit Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Marange communities. Speaking about the upcoming visit Voule said:
My upcoming visit to Zimbabwe represents a key opportunity to learn first-hand about laws, policies and national realities in relation to the rights to peaceful assembly and of association in light to the 2013 Constitution and the change of leadership.
My mission will also serve to identify the opportunities and challenges the Government faces in implementing articles 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly in relation to the management of assemblies in the context of the recent protests.
I look forward to having a constructive engagement with the Government, independent institutions and a wide-range of civil society actors to identify needs and practical approaches in order to formulate constructive recommendations that can contribute to the strengthening of the civic space in the country
At the end of the visit Voule will share his findings with members of the media at first and the with the UN Human Rights Council in June 2020. The envoy is coming at a time when the police last month issued a series of prohibition notices to MDC’s planned protests. The envoy will meet with government officials and members of different civil society groups legislators etc during his visit.
More: United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner