UN human rights expert to visit Zimbabwe over sanctions

Harare (New Ziana)-The United Nations will next month send a special Rapporteur, Alena Douhan to Zimbabwe, to investigate the impact on human rights in the country of Western sanctions imposed more than two decades ago.

Douhan is expected in Zimbabwe from 18 to 28 October 2021.

The West imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2 000 to try and force the government to give up on its land reforms in which it compulsorily took excess farmland from white farmers to resettle landless blacks as part of an economic empowerment programme.

White farmers owned the bulk of Zimbabwe’s fertile farmland, a privilege derived from colonial rule.

The Special Rapporteur, who is visiting at the invitation of the Government, will meet with government officials, civil society and the opposition among others.

“Following an invitation of the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Ms. Alena Douhan, will undertake an official visit to the country from 18 to 28 October 2021,” the UN Human Rights Office said.

“The Special Rapporteur and her team will collect information and hold a series of meetings with Government authorities, civil society organizations, private sector and opposition,” he added.

The UN organ said the purpose of the mission is to examine whether and to what extent the implementation of unilateral sanctions impedes the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Special Rapporteur is expected to submit a report on her visit, which will be an addendum to her report to the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, to take place in September 2022.

New Ziana