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Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairman Mr Elasto Mugwadi is seeking renewal of term of office for four commissioners whose tenure expired last month.The term of office for the Commission deputy chairperson Dr Ellen Sithole and commissioners, Mr Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, Dr Joseph Kurebwa and Dr Kwanele Muriel Jirira expired on March 31.

They were appointed to the human rights body by President Mugabe in 2010, to spearhead investigations of cases of human rights abuse in the country.

Other commissioners are Mrs Shiella Hilary Matindike, Ms Sethulo Ncube and Ms Norma Niseni and Professor Carol Khombe.

Speaking on the sidelines of a donation of four top-of-the-range and all-terrain vehicles by the Royal Danish and Norwegian governments yesterday, Mr Mugwadi said the quartet had offered to continue their services at the ZHRC.

“So, we have sent a memo to President (Mugabe) as the appointing officer recommending renewal of their term of office,” said Mr Mugwadi.

“I believe the matter is under consideration and we are still awaiting response.”

Mr Mugwadi’s term ends in 2019. He was appointed to chair the commission in February last year replacing Mr Jacob Mudenda who is now Speaker of the National Assembly.

Mr Mugwadi described Dr Sithole, Mr Ndabeni Ncube, Dr Kurebwa, and Ms Jirira as hardworking people committed to the success of the commission.

“If they go, we are definitely going to miss them,” said Mr Mugwadi. “We worked together well as the commission, policy makers as well as secretariat for close to three years. We were a close-knit family.”