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Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has recommended that Chingwizi villagers who lived on high ground must be allowed to go back to their land to prepare for the farming season.
The commission also said the government must address the issue of land tenure for villagers it has relocated as they are insecure.

The government was urged to provide special protection and assistance to the elderly, disabled and people living with HIV/Aids.

In a report presented by ZHRC chairperson Elasto Mugwadi at a media engagement workshop in Harare on Tuesday, the commission said it was likely to take long to supply irrigation facilities and water to all those affected by the floods.

The commission recommended that the government should ensure that villagers have access to decent, permanent shelter which maintains the family unit, at the same time retaining privacy between family members.

It said in the interim, the government should facilitate the provision of adequate temporary durable shelter for the displaced families taking into account the sizes of the families.

The ZHRC report also said all those who were on high ground with no threat or likelihood of being affected by the flooding should be allowed to “retrace their roots to enable them to engage in cropping activities for this coming summer season which is just around the corner.

“This recommendation is premised on the understanding that the dam water could be controlled for all future purposes and intents through the sluice gate system which would check flooding of areas adjacent to the dam,” reads part of the report that has already been submitted to the government.

It added that the government must ensure that Chingwizi villagers are resettled on productive land that supports livelihoods and is also suitable for crop and livestock production.

“The issue of land tenure in the relocation site is unclear to the residents and has affected their willingness to invest on their plots. The ZHRC recommends that the state guarantees security of tenure to the residents as clearly provided for in Section 292 of the Constitution,” the report also said.

The commission recommended that the government should expedite the process of compensating all those who were affected by the floods and to make some cash transfers for a certain period as a stop gap measure before they are finally compensated.

It also called on the government to ensure that food, potable water, basic shelter and housing as well as appropriate clothing and medical services and sanitation are provided.

“ZHRC recommends that the State should ensure that quality education is available to IDPs especially children and also construct appropriate schools with adequate furniture and stationery to enhance the quality of primary and secondary education according to Section 75 of the Constitution,” read the report.

The ZHRC called on the government to strengthen its relations with humanitarian agencies to alleviate the situation at Chingwizi.

“In dealing with displacements generally, the ZHRC recommends that for future planning purposes, the State should put in place procedures to be followed to minimise the adverse effects of displacement according to UN Guiding Principles 5 and 9. All feasible alternatives should be explored to avoid displacement where possible,” the report added.

Parliament was urged to enact a law that to specifically “entrench” provisions that protect displaced people.