Editorial Comment : Human rights come with responsibility

All human beings have God-given rights. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission — whose mandate is to, among other things, promote awareness of and respect for all human rights and freedoms — is a creation based on this belief that all humans are entitled to these rights. Former US president John F Kennedy said: “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.”However, these rights do not come alone. They come with responsibilities and are constrained by respect for the rights of others.

ZHRC chair Mr Elasto Mugwadi hit the nail on the head yesterday when he called on opposition parties to observe the Constitution and respect the rights of others when carrying out demonstrations.

While MDC-T members (or rather all Zimbabweans) have the right to demonstrate, such action must not infringe on the rights of others.

Recent violent protests engineered by MDC-T, Zimbabwe People First and “civil” society, are a very good example of how not to exercise civil rights.

By looting shops, burning property and attacking innocent people, the protesters exposed their misplaced belief that their rights are more important than those of others.

In other words, their right to demonstrate supersedes a vendor’s right to peace. A passerby’s freedom not to associate. A police officer’s right to safety.

In an interview with The Herald, Mr Mugwadi said protesters who unlawfully stood in the way of police officers on duty should be dealt with.

“Even the police have rights too,” he said. We might add, those rights include enforcing law and order on those who demonstrate.

Rights without responsibility are as dangerous as wild fires. Irresponsible citizens don’t deserve rights, but control — they belong in prison.

Geopolitical strategist Prashanth Shanmugan put it thus: “. . . our privileges can be no greater than our obligations.”

The first obligation is to respect the rights of others. For example, the right to free speech does not and cannot mean we can insult others for no apparent reason. Those who do so must be willing to face the full wrath of the law.

While we respect the fact that MDC-T members have the right to stay away as part of their so-called shutdown, they absolutely have no right to barricade roads, stone property or burn vending stalls. They should not interfere with those going about their business or try to use them as cover for their nefarious deeds.

The police should come out in full force and protect the rights of law-abiding Zimbabweans working for national development.

Hooligans should lose their rights until such a time that they are mature enough to be trusted with them. They should earn their rights like the rest of us.

The Human Rights Commission has made it clear that “every right comes with a responsibility”.

Leaders of violent political parties have the responsibility to whip their members into line. Instead of fanning violence, they should prove that they are worthy leaders.

Again, the irresponsible don’t deserve rights. Those who squander their rights don’t deserve sympathy.

A right ceases to be a right when it infringes on the rights of others.

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