Press Statement at the Conclusion of the Promotion Mission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to the Republic of Zimbabwe
1. Further to its mandate under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) and following authorization by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, a Delegation from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) undertook a Promotion Mission in Zimbabwe, from 30 March to 2 April 2026.
2. The Commission's Delegation comprised:
Honourable Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, Commissioner responsible for the promotion of human rights in Zimbabwe, and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa;
Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela, Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa; and
Honourable Commissioner Selma Sassi Safer, Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa.
3. The Promotion Mission was supported by staff from the Commission's Secretariat.
4. The objectives of the mission were to promote the African Charter and other regional instruments; advocate for the ratification of outstanding human rights treaties; strengthen collaboration between the Commission and the Government of Zimbabwe; raise the Commission's visibility among national institutions and civil society; engage in dialogue on legislative and policy measures taken to implement the African Charter and other human rights instruments; and follow up on the implementation of previous recommendations.
5. The Delegation was honoured to be received by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and to constructive engagement with the Commission. His Excellency committed to hosting a future session of the Commission in Zimbabwe, demonstrating the Government's dedication to deepening its engagement with the African Human Rights System. He further assured the Delegation that the Government would ensure the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Commission's visit.
6. During the Mission, the Delegation held high-level consultations with the following authorities:
The Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Advocate J. Mudenda;
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon. Ambassador F. Shava;
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi;
Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Minister Dr. Eng. P. Kambamura (MP);
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa;
Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Affairs;
Ministry of Health and Child Care;
Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare;
Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife;
The Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education;
The Prosecutor General.
7. The Commission also met with the following Commissions:
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission;
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission;
The Zimbabwe Media Commission;
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission;
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
The Judicial Service Commission.
8. The Delegation also met with the Law Society of Zimbabwe, (20) Representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Five (5) Media Practitioners, and Human Rights Defenders.
9. The Mission further included a site visit to the Marondera Female Open Correctional Institution and the Harare Central Prison.
10. The Delegation commends the Government of Zimbabwe for its commitment to engagement with the African Human Rights System and its openness to dialogue. Whereas a comprehensive report will be adopted in due course, the Commission would like to highlight the following preliminary observations.
Positive Observations
11. The Delegation acknowledges the following significant and concrete achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights in Zimbabwe:
- A Robust Constitutional Foundation: Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution establishes a progressive legal framework, particularly Chapter 4, the Declaration of Rights, which guarantees a broad spectrum of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The Constitution also establishes key independent institutions.
- Strengthened Gender Equality Institutions - Gender Parity and Women's Representation: The 2025 National Gender Policy, the National Gender Coordination Framework, and the network of one-stop centres—supplemented by mobile units—reflect innovative approaches to combating gender-based violence and reaching remote communities. The constitutional quota system reserving 60 seats for women in Parliament, demonstrates a commitment to women's political participation.
- Abolition of the Death Penalty: The enactment of the Death Penalty Abolition Act in 2024 represents a historic achievement, aligning domestic law with global abolitionist trends.
- Rehabilitation-Focused Correctional Reforms: The establishment of Marondera Female Open Correctional Institution represents a landmark shift toward rehabilitation. The facility's programmes—including digital and vocational training, and home leave- exemplify a progressive correctional philosophy aligned with international standards.
- Advancements in Access to Education: Zimbabwe has achieved national gender parity in education enrolment, with girls outnumbering boys at the secondary level. It should be highlighted that the prohibition of corporal punishment, the ban of discrimination based on gender, the protection of pregnant girls from exclusion, the Basic Education Assistance Module and Grant-in-Aid programmes, the School Feeding Programme, and sanitary wear provision address barriers to attendance.
Concerns
12. Despite these significant achievements, the Delegation identified challenges that inhibit the full realization of human rights in Zimbabwe:
- Ratification Gaps and Regional Engagement Deficits: Zimbabwe has not yet ratified several international and regional human rights instruments, including the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT); the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG); the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Specific Aspects of the Right to a Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa; and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights ( Court Protocol).
- Prison Overcrowding and Detention Concerns: Despite the success of the Open Prison Model, the broader prison system remains critically overcrowded.
- Gap Between Constitutional Guarantees and Practice: While the Constitution provides robust protections, significant implementation gaps remain, namely: the age of criminal responsibility stands at fourteen years; child labour persists, particularly in agriculture and artisanal mining; and child marriage continues in some communities, contributing to high dropout rates among girls.
- Challenges related to Constitutional Review Process: The Commission recognizes the sovereign prerogative of Zimbabwe in advancing its constitutional reform agenda; however, the Mission encouraged more inclusivity to further strengthen transparency and public confidence in the ongoing reform process. Furthermore, the proposed dissolution of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission under the constitutional review process raises concerns about a regression in gender equality protections.
Preliminary Recommendations
13. The Delegation preliminarily urges the Government of Zimbabwe to:
Fulfill Regional and National Obligations and Close Protection Gaps:
- Expedite the ratification of international and regional human rights instruments, including the CAT, OPCAT, the AUCEVAWG, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Specific Aspects of the Right to a Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa, and the Court Protocol.
- Establish a dedicated Focal Point within the Ministry of Justice for following up on the implementation of the Commission’s decisions on individual Communications.
Address Prison Overcrowding and Strengthen Detention Reforms:
- Expand the open prison model to additional regions and use this model to reduce overcrowding of closed correctional facilities and promote rehabilitation.
Ongoing Constitutional Amendment Process
- Consider making the process more inclusive by involving more relevant actors from civil society and the public in general.
- Reconsider the proposed dissolution of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
Bridge the Gap Between Constitutional Guarantees and Practice
- Enact legislation mandating legal representation for all children in conflict with the law, and intensify efforts to enforce laws against child labour and child marriage.
Strengthen Gender Equality and Protection of Vulnerable Groups
- Allocate adequate resources to implement the Domestic Violence Act.
- Develop specialized facilities and programmes for women and children with disabilities.
Strengthen Anti-Corruption Efforts and Accountability
- Enact the Whistleblowers and Witness Protection Bill to provide robust legal protection for those who report corruption.
14. The Delegation wishes to thank the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and its people for their very warm reception and hospitality, as well as for the frank and constructive dialogue during the Mission. The Delegation is truly grateful to the Government for the facilities and services placed at its disposal during the Mission, and singles out for special gratitude the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for the excellent arrangements put in place.
15. The Delegation will prepare a Report of the Mission, which will be tabled before the Commission for consideration and adoption at one of its upcoming sessions, followed by onward transmission to the Government of Zimbabwe.
Done in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, 2 April 2026
