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 Challenges and Issues Faced by Special Interest Groups Mozambique to enable such inmates to serve their sentences in their country of origin. Inmates in these countries who claimed to be Zimbabweans could not benefit from the bilateral arrangements without documentary proof. The ZPCS has a mandate to ferry inmates to the DRG’s office to apply for national documents but fuel shortages hamper these efforts. The DRG’s office carries out mobile registration programmes in some prisons. However, most inmates failed to acquire national documents due to inability to meet the legal requirements. 4.10Gukurahundi-affected Communities Adverse effects of Gukurahundi on accessing national documents, particularly birth certificates and national identity documents are still being experienced117. Many people lost documents as a result of Gukurahundi. Citizens failed to get death certificates from the DRG’s office in cases of missing persons from the Gukurahundi period in the 1980s118 and this has resulted in generations of un-documented persons. People affected by Gukurahundi cannot get birth certificates and national identity documents in many instances because they are required to produce death certificates of their parents (who died or went missing during Gukurahundi) or, in the absence of a death certificate they are required to bring witnesses, who are often scared to testify about the death of their relatives 119. Gukurahundi affected communities are reluctant to participate in national processes, including mobile registration programmes, as these constantly remind them of Gukurahundi. Lack of truth, healing and reconciliation programmes for the communities affected by Gukurahundi negatively impact on their willingness to try to get national documents, especially when they encounter hurdles in approaching the DRG’s offices120. Approximately ninety per cent (90%) of those who experienced Gukurahundi are suffering from mental health challenges121. 4.11 Tongogara Refugees Where applications for refugee status were declined, 122 applicants did not qualify to get any documentation from the DRG’s office. This problem of rejected refugee applications affects applicants who continue to stay at Tongogara since 2010. At the time of the field visit, there were seven hundred and sixty-nine (769) rejected applicants residing at the camp. Children whose parents were denied refugee status are not issued with birth certificates despite being born in Zimbabwe. Submissions received from Midlands, Matabeleland North and South Provinces. Submission by Habakkuk Trust. 119 Evidence gathered during the Commissioners’ field visits to Balagwe in Matobo District (Matabeleland South). 120 This was exhibited by one witness aged 45, from Beula, Matobo District who appeared distracted and incoherent in her testimony. For example, she stated that her mother was 13 years of age. Her challenge was that she and her siblings, as well as their children were un-documented. It was reported that the witness’ mother was also mentally impaired as a result of the trauma she experienced during Gukurahundi. 121 The Councillor for Beula Community in Matobo District. 117 118 As part of the National Inquiry processes, the ZHRC Commissioners conducted field visits to selected communities whose documentation challenges are exacerbated by vulnerability and or marginalization during the period 16 – 20 December 2019. One of the communities visited was the refugee community at Tongogara Refugee camp on 19 December 2019. 122 39 39