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 CHAPTER 2: THE NATIONAL INQUIRY PROCESS 2.0 Introduction The ZHRC made careful consideration and effort to engage stakeholders and members of the public throughout the process. The process entailed the following; 1. Dissemination of information and notifications on the commencement and launch of the National Inquiry to relevant government departments, stakeholders and the general public, 2. Targeted engagements with the MoHACH and the DRG offices as access to documentation mandate holders, 3. Field visits19 were conducted by ZHRC Secretariat to nine (9) Provincial DRG offices and some District and sub offices to get appreciation of the infrastructure of the offices and observe service delivery, 4. Engagement meetings were held with University Students in raising awareness of the National Inquiry on Access to Documentation were part of the process. The engagements were held with students from Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University and the National University of Science and Technology, 5. Stakeholder consultative meetings were held at national, provincial and district levels, 6. Community outreach meetings were held in all the districts to raise awareness of the process, gather evidence and identify witnesses for public hearings, 7. Partnering with stakeholders in mobilising, conducting community outreaches, disseminating information and administering witness forms20, 8. Publicity campaign of the National Inquiry through electronic and print media, social media, bulk Short Message Service (SMS)21, 9. Field visits to vulnerable communities, such as San, Doma, Tonga and border communities; refugees; and disaster affected communities and 10. Stakeholder validation meetings of the preliminary key findings22 (at provincial and national levels). 2.1 Evidence Gathering The ZHRC received evidence from witnesses and stakeholders from all the ten Provinces. These stakeholders and witnesses participated by giving evidence indicating the type of national document they had encountered challenges in accessing; the nature of the challenge experienced; the root causes of the challenge; the impact of lack of documentation on the enjoyment of human rights; and suggesting recommendations to deal with the identified challenges. The evidence gathered revealed that a significant number of people were not documented and therefore, unable to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed human rights. A triangulation of evidence from the multiple sources showed consistencies with National Inquiry findings. The evidence was gathered using the various methods elaborated below. 2.1.1 Literature Review (Public Reports and Researches) The ZHRC reviewed public reports and researches conducted by other institutions23. Key among these were the Report on the Baseline Survey conducted by TRACE, the research by LRF and the Report of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security. Evidence from these reports identified key challenges of accessing national documentation and recommendations. One of the key findings was the significant numbers 19 See Summary Report on findings in Annexure 17 These were Provincial and District Development Coordinators (PDCs and DDCs), Traditional Leaders, Councillors, CSOs and other community leaders. 20 21 Counselling Services Unit (CSU) volunteered to send out bulk SMS with information on notices and outreaches and public hearings, which reached 4637 members of the public (Mashonaland West 1390, Harare Province 1, 169, Midlands 1,080, Mashonaland East 738, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South 260). 22 The preliminary findings of the National Inquiry were subjected to validation processes by stakeholders. The first validation by Provincial stakeholders was done in January 2020. All the 10 Provinces validated the findings and indicated that the findings were an accurate reflection of access to documentation issues in their Provinces. 23 See detailed Literature Review in Annexure 2. 5 5