Regional & International Lobbying

Freedom of expression is recognised throughout the world as a fundamental human right that defines democratic societies. MMPZ seeks to promote and protect this right (and its subsidiary rights of access to information and to be informed) through its local, regional and international advocacy programmes.

Regional and International Lobbying

MMPZ works, together with other human rights defenders, to lobby regional and international intergovernmental organisations and civic groups to inform them of the Zimbabwe government’s activities, particularly in relation to freedom of expression and the media. MMPZ and its partners lobby these organisations (particularly the African Commission and its parent, the African Union and other similar bodies) to bring pressure to bear on the Government of Zimbabwe to commit itself to democratic reform. MMPZ was granted official observer status with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) at its 34th Ordinary Session held in Banjul in May 2004. The ultimate goal of MMPZ’s regional and international lobbying activities is to see a total reform of government policy relating to human rights practice, especially the repeal of repressive media and information rights laws. This would represent a first step towards encouraging a more tolerant government attitude to the promotion of a diverse media environment in the country and, particularly, a reform of the national public broadcasting corporation to free it from government control.

Objectives:

  • To accurately inform regional and international intergovernmental & non-governmental organisations of Zimbabwe’s media and information rights abuses and to mobilize these bodies to persuade the Government of Zimbabwe to commit itself to reform all repressive legislation affecting these issues.
  • To highlight human rights violations in Zimbabwe.
  • To highlight the erosion of civil and political rights in Zimbabwe, including subversion of the parliamentary process, the independence of the judiciary, administration of justice, impunity and arbitrary detention, as well as the displacement of its citizens.
  • To fully present the plight of human rights defenders in their struggle to promote and protect human rights in Zimbabwe Target groups / beneficiaries:

(a) Government

(b) General Populace

(c) Journalists

(d) Local community-based organisations

(e) Human Rights and Non-Governmental Organisations

(f) African governments, particularly SADC, the African Union and its Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

(g) United Nations Commission on Human Rights/ UN Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteurs