Time for Zimbabweans to Sue for Their Rights – ZimEye

The Constitution of Zimbabwe is clear It is the duty of the national government, local authorities and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to protect and serve the people This includes ensuring access to safe water, maintaining infrastructure, protecting the environment and enforcing road safety Yet the reality on the ground tells a different story one of neglect, broken promises and selective law enforcement Across the country, taps run dry, forcing families to rely on unsafe water sources Burst sewage pipes in urban centres leave residents exposed to disease The air in industrial zones and crowded cities is choked with fumes from ageing vehicles and unregulated factories Roads, both urban and rural are riddled with potholes large enough to damage vehicles and cause accidents Drivers who speed, overload vehicles or drive unroadworthy cars seem to operate with impunity, while honest citizens are harassed at roadblocks for minor infractions What Zimbabweans often forget is that the Constitution gives them the right to demand these services and to take legal action when they are not provided Section 77 guarantees the right to safe, clean and potable water Section 73 promises every person the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being Section 29 outlines the duty of the state to take measures to ensure the provision of basic health services And Section 327 allows the courts to hold public institutions accountable for failing to meet their obligations Lawsuits are not a foreign concept in functional democracies In South Africa, India and Kenya, citizens have successfully sued governments and local authorities to compel the delivery of basic services In Zimbabwe, however, the culture of legal accountability is weak partly due to fear, partly due to lack of awareness and partly due to mistrust in the judicial system But without pressure from the public, the cycle of neglect will continue citizen must use the legal tools available to them Civil society groups, lawyers and activists should lead a coordinated push for strategic litigation Class action suits against councils that fail to provide water, petitions against the ZRP for failing to enforce traffic laws fairly and environmental lawsuits against polluters should become part of the national conversation When leaders know they can be dragged to court, sued and embarrassed publicly, they are more likely to act Silence and endurance may have been survival strategies in the past, but in today’s Zimbabwe, they amount to surrender Zimbabweans must remember, the Constitution is not a decorative document it is a shield and a sword It is time to wield it Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi+263772278161 Source: Zimeye All Zim News is a central hub for all things Zimbabwean, curating news from across the country so no story is missed Alongside aggregation, our team of nationwide reporters provides real-time, on-the-ground coverage Stay informed and connected — reach us at admin@allzimnews.com. Source: Zimeye