UN Special Rapporteur meets Manicaland Minister of State

Mutare (Pungwe News-New Ziana) -United Nations Special Rapporteur Clement Nyaletsossi Voule on Monday met Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba at her New Government Complex offices.

Voule is in the country for a 10 day visit at the invitation of the government to assess the country’s achievements and challenges in relation to the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

His is the first official visit to Zimbabwe by an independent human rights expert appointed by the Human Rights Council, a UN body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.

In an interview after the closed door meeting, Voule said the engagement with government officials was fruitful and he would be visiting communities in Mutare and Marange on Tuesday.

“The engagement with the Minister was fruitful and tomorrow I will be going into the field and I will visit communities in Mutare and Marange areas to assess the situation,” he said.

“It is important for me to meet with state authorities, on state actors and all the parties for me to understand the political and economic context regarding the enjoyment of the freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” he added.

Voule declined to disclose full details of the meeting, saying “it is still confidential”.

“I cannot disclose full details of the meeting with the Minister because it still confidential under our own procedures,” he said.

Voule is expected to present a preliminary report on his findings this Friday at the UN Information Centre in the capital.

He is expected to present a comprehensive report of his visit, which would include his findings and recommendations, to the 44th session of the Human Rights Council in June next year.

New Ziana.