N AT I O N A L I N Q U I R Y R E P O R T ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION For Human Dignity Finally, various news articles reported on the DRG plans to accelerate the printing of passports. This was lauded as a welcome development since people have been waiting up to eighteen (18) months to take delivery of their passports. 8.2 Follow up Actions The ZHRC will carry out follow up actions to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations, which will be articulated in an action and monitoring plan. In addition to monitoring the implementation of recommendations, the ZHRC will also raise awareness on the human rights impact of lack of access to documentation. The Complaints Handling and Investigations Department of the ZHRC will conduct follow up action on complaints that were raised and cases that were taken up by the DRG throughout the National Inquiry process. On its part, the Monitoring and Inspections Unit will continue monitoring relevant institutions to assess the level of implementation of the recommendations. 8.3 Lessons Learnt in Conducting the National Inquiry Lessons learnt in conducting the National Inquiry included but were not limited to the following: 1. Working with traditional leaders, local authority, CSOs and Councillors who are in direct contact with people, ensured the mobilisation of large numbers of persons affected by challenges of accessing documents. This enabled ZHRC to reach out to large numbers of people who had access to documentation challenges. 2. There was general appreciation by communities of the engagement by ZHRC as they were able to air their grievances and challenges, they faced. They felt heard. There is need for ZHRC to hold regular outreach meeting where they can meet people directly in their communities and hear their concerns. This would strengthen visibility and relevance of the ZHRC at grassroots level 3. More ZHRC teams and time for outreach meetings was needed during the field outreaches to cope with large volumes of people who attended. 4. Deliberate targeting of vulnerable and marginalised people ensured that they were included and participated in the National Inquiry process and public hearings. This was achieved by visiting institutions of Persons with Disabilities, Children’s homes, Prisons and Elderly care homes. Minority communities were also visited in their particular communities, these included Doma, Tonga and San. 5. Marginalised and Minority groups needed more time to open up and participate in processes. 6. There was need for other communication and information dissemination means to raise public awareness on the National Inquiry. Radio and TV became severely affected by load shedding and power cuts. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other online platforms were used raise awareness. 7. There is need to minimise distances during fieldwork, particularly in view of current fuel shortages 8. Translation of witness submission in Shona and Ndebele, made it easier for most individuals in rural areas to complete. 9. Generally, there is need for increased human rights awareness in communities. 10. Validation meetings whereby all stakeholders were invited to make in put on the findings of the national inquiry enhanced stakeholder buy in, ownership and validation of findings of the National Inquiry. 65 65