The Parliament of Zimbabwe has called for public nominations for persons to serve on the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission (ZICC) which deals with public complaints of misconduct by members of the security services.
Section 210 of the Constitution provides for an independent and impartial mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such conduct.
The Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Act was gazetted in 2022.
The Commission comprises of a chairperson appointed by the President, after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission and four other members appointed by the President from the list of at least seven nominees submitted by Parliament.
In addition, the chairperson must invite the head of each security service to appoint a serving or retired member of that service of sufficient seniority to sit with the commission whenever it is investigating into any alleged act of misconduct on the part of any member or former member of that particular security service.
In a notice, Parliament said the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) of the Parliament of Zimbabwe is mandated in terms of section 237(i) of the Constitution, to nominate candidates for appointment by His Excellency, the President, to serve as Commissioners on the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission as provided for in Section 6 of the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission Act (Chapter 10:34).
“Accordingly, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders is hereby calling on the Public to nominate persons, to be considered for appointment to this Commission.”
They said ZICC’s functions are to investigate any complaint made by any person or on his or her behalf against any misconduct on the part of a member of a security service in the discharge or purported discharge of the member’s functions.
“To investigate any contraventions of, or practices which do not comply with sections 206 (2) and (3) and 208 of the Constitution; (c) To inspect any facilities under the control of any security service where persons are detained or incarcerated and make any recommendations or remedial orders it considers necessary; and To cause the presentation of any information it considers appropriate to an inquest conducted by any court or other investigation in terms of the Coroner’s Office Act (Chapter 7:21).”
Parliament said eligible people for the appointment to the Commission include a person who is eligible for appointment as a High Court Judge or is a sitting judge or former judge, legal practitioner of not less than seven years experience in the practice of law, a medical practitioner of not less than seven years’ practical experience registered as such in terms of the Health Professions Act (Chapter 27:19), a psychologist of not less than seven years’ practical experience registered as such in terms of the Health Professions Act (Chapter 27:19); and a person with experience in any security services.
“Nomination material must consist of a typewritten submission of no more than one A4 page long stating why the person nominated is a suitable candidate together with a detailed Curriculum Vitae and a completed nomination form which can be obtained at Parliament Offices Human Resources Department – 3rd Floor Room 340 ) or downloaded from the Parliament website: www.parlzim.gov.zw.”
“Nominations must be addressed to the Clerk of Parliament in sealed envelopes clearly marked with the name of the Commission. These may be emailed to hrvacancies@parlzim.gov.zw, clerk@parlzim.gov.zw or posted, or hand delivered to: The Clerk of Parliament ,” they said.
The closing date for submission of nominations is 4.30 pm on Wednesday 31 January 2024.
