While meeting its members, NANGO was intrigued by cases of civil litigation that Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR) has embarked on under its Public Litigation Project.
Through this project, ZLHR aims to increase accountability of state and non-state actors for human rights violations against citizens. It also helps bring civil claims for damages against named perpetrators violating human rights in their personal and official capacities.
For instance, Chingwizi villagers sued the Minister of Home Affairs and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and have been duly compensated for the torture they endured after they were forced to relocate to an area with worse living conditions than their transit camp. While at Naunetsi Ranch villagers had no access to schools, clinics, food or water.
ZLHR intervened to assist villagers that were forcibly removed from their homes three years ago in Tokwe Mukosi area, Masvingo and resettled haphazardly.
Similarly to Chingwizi villagers, ZLHR has also assisted villagers in Mazoe, Chisumbanje and Marange to name a few. In urban areas there are also efforts to stop councils from degrading wetlands.
Hospitals, local authorities such as town councils, schools, traditional leaders and state agencies have also been forced to account for human rights violations through ZLHR’s Public Litigation Project.
ZLHR is also availing mobile clinics in communities in order to provide human right literacy, free legal aid and legal counselling for the poor and the most marginalised populations.
ZLHR director, Rose Hanzi, asserted that the organisation is equipping communities with knowledge of their constitutional rights and obligations.
Increased rights literacy empowers communities to engage local and national leaders, demand civil, economic, social and environmental rights.
Hanzi added that ZLHR is open to working with more community based organisations as this will assist in the mapping of areas with victims that need compensation
