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
5.1.5 Access to Social Welfare (section
30)
5.1.6 Freedom of Profession, Trade or
Occupation (section 64)
5.1.7 Right to Property (section 71)
5.1.8 Right of Accused, Arrested and
Detained Persons (sections, 50, 69, 70)
5.1.9 Right to Human Dignity (section
51)
5.1.10 Right to Education (sectio133n
75)
Disqualification from accessing social services, such as food aid
programmes, school grants, other relief programmes taking place in
communities e.g. school children failing to qualify for the Basic
Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
Failure to secure employment even manual jobs.
Prison inmates without identity documents fail to sit for public
academic examinations and trade tests for vocational skills training
offered in prison workshops as part of their rehabilitation.
Inability to apply for mobile money accounts, bank accounts, or
register telephone lines.
Prison inmates without documentation cannot sit for trade tests which
are part of their rehabilitation.
Face exploitation in workplaces especially abroad as a result of lack
of documentation i.e. passports.
Failure to access pension due to lack of death certificates of
breadwinners and national identity documents for beneficiaries.
Inability to benefit from transfer of ownership of property like
deceased estates.
Access to land is restricted or unavailable e.g. mixed race (coloured)
community cannot access land from places of origin as their identity
coding is not related to any district.
They also failed to register for residential stands with local authorities.
Registration of immovable property not possible as a national identity
number is required as a means to reduce fraud in property transfer.
Unable to open bank accounts to keep savings or transact
internationally.
Denial of speedy trial for children who have no documents to prove
their age due to the need for age estimations.
Children without identity documents are at risk of being tried as adults
and not benefit for the Pre-trial Diversion Programme.
Inmates without identity documents may not benefit from Presidential
Pardon.
Bail may be denied if identity of accused person cannot be
established.
A person without an ID may be detained for security reasons only to
be released once their identity has been established.
Access to justice may be hindered where an applicant cannot
establish their identity and therefore their right to approach courts of
law.
Affected people suffer low self-esteem and loss of dignity.
They lack a sense of their belonging to Zimbabwe and to their local
communities.
They feel that they are not equal human beings.
They also face stigmatization as some may be subjected to insults
and name calling by relatives, communities and public officials.
Treatment at DRG offices sometimes undermines dignity when
mistreated as a result of failure to bring appropriate supporting
documents and simply due to bad attitude by staff.
Patriotism or nationalism is undermined due to lack of sense of
belonging leading to insecurity.
Failure to enrol in school or pursue further education including sitting
for public examinations.
Examination results and certificates for affected children may be
withheld.
Inability to participate in sporting activities, extra-curricular activities
and educational tours.
Failure to access educational scholarships and social services
support such as BEAM.
Failure to pursue career based on one’s talents.
Access to adult education hindered by lack of documentation.
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These are fundamental human rights and freedoms as provided for in the Constitution and international
human rights treaties of relevance to Zimbabwe.
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