(Public Statement 8/2017)
Issue Date: 03 July 2017
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) would like to publicly applaud the stance taken by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) to the effect that it will not hesitate to recommend the cancellation of elections in areas that will be marred with electoral violence in the 2018 elections.
Zimbabwe and Africa in general has a very ugly history of pre and post electoral violence and the perpetrators of electoral violence have always enjoyed immunity and have not faced the dire consequences of their actions.
The ZHRC stance is therefore an indication of the seriousness of the Commission in ensuring that all citizens enjoy their right to vote, their freedom of association and assembly, their right to personal liberty, their right to human dignity and right to safety and security among other fundamental rights and freedoms linked to electoral processes.
Elections should and must not be used by individuals and political parties as an excuse for violating individual and group rights but as a means of enhancing human rights promotion, development and service delivery.
We therefore call on all progressive political and civil movements in Zimbabwe and abroad to begin empowering and amplifying the ZHRC stance.
Statement by:
The General Secretary
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights
Email: mihroffice@gmail.com
MATABELELAND INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 
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