Source: Amendment Bill: AU Commission urges inclusion – herald
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The head of the visiting high-level African Union Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah‑Njie, yesterday said the outcomes of the ongoing proposed constitutional amendments should only be determined by Zimbabweans as they have a sovereign right to do so.
Comm Sallah-Njie made the remarks at the conclusion of the delegation’s four-day promotional mission, where it held a series of meetings with Government ministries, independent commissions and civil society organisations as part of its programme across AU member States.
She said as the AU Commission, they suggested that the process should follow AU recommendations and an integrated approach of leaving no one behind, a principle of inclusion that the country has championed under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.
“We highlighted the issue of the constitutional reform process and we recognise the sovereignty of Zimbabwe and the fact that it has the right to determine the constitutional agenda,” she said.
“We are recommending this to be as inclusive as possible, so that all stakeholders feel that they have been consulted and are part of the process.
“Not only the communities, but civil society organisations also need to be consulted, traditional and religious leaders need to be consulted, because these are all people who make up a society. We promote the integrated approach that when you are promoting anything, you leave no one behind, which is the motto of the AU,” Comm Sallah-Njie said.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi praised the delegation for the visit, pledging that the country will look at the final recommendations when drafted to see areas that need improvement.
On the ongoing constitutional reforms, Minister Ziyambi said the delegation made expressions it believed would enhance Zimbabwe’s processes, which they agreed to consider.
“They spoke about the process that we are doing in terms of the constitution-making, they expressed some of the things that they believe will enhance our processes, and we agreed that we will consider some of them and see how they can improve our law-making process.
“By and large it was a very good visit. They are going to send us their report which we will look at and see on the areas that we should improve on,” Minister Ziyambi said.
Zimbabwe has received positive reviews from progressive regional and international institutions regarding its commitment to upholding human rights.
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