HARARE, Apr. 15 (NewsDay Live) – The controversy surrounding the removal of former Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Jessie Majome has escalated to the regional stage, with an African human rights body calling for her immediate reinstatement and condemning her “reassignment.”
The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) said it is “gravely concerned” by the decision to remove Majome from the helm of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and reassign her to the Public Service Commission as a commissioner.
The move, effected last Friday, has sparked public outrage and raised questions about the independence of constitutional institutions.
NANHRI is a regional umbrella body representing 46 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) across Africa.
In a statement issued from Nairobi on Monday, the organisation warned that the decision sets “a dangerous precedent” that threatens constitutional order, democratic oversight and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
The body noted that the development came shortly after the ZHRC released a critical report on public hearings into Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, flagging intimidation, restricted access to hearings and violations of fundamental rights.
“The ZHRC is a Chapter 12 institution whose effectiveness is grounded in its independence,” NANHRI said. “For any NHRI to function credibly, it must comply with the Paris Principles, which guarantee independence from executive interference.”
It added that the reassignment of a sitting chairperson—particularly in the context of the commission’s recent public reporting—undermines the independence, credibility and effectiveness essential to the ZHRC’s mandate.
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NANHRI argued that Zimbabwe’s Constitution does not provide for the “reassignment” of commissioners, but only for their removal through a formal tribunal process as outlined in Section 237.
“Circumventing this process through executive action constitutes a de facto removal from office and erodes constitutional safeguards,” the organisation said.
NANHRI also expressed concern over reports of an increasingly hostile environment for individuals expressing dissenting views, as highlighted in the ZHRC’s findings, and urged authorities to ensure their protection and refrain from intimidation or reprisals.
The organisation called on the government to rescind the decision and uphold constitutional principles of independence, accountability and the rule of law.
“Protecting the integrity of independent commissions is essential to ensuring a democratic society where human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled,” the statement said.
Majome’s reassignment has triggered widespread criticism locally, with civil society groups, lawyers and political actors condemning the move as an attack on institutional independence.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens have approached the courts to challenge her removal from the ZHRC.
