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commissions to avert external influence and allow them to discharge their constitutional duties independently.
The minister said the four commissions – the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, the Zimbabwe Media Commission, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission – were creatures of the Government and the Treasury should provide at least 90 percent of the resources.

Cde Chinamasa was speaking during the handover ceremony of Fournos Building to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission in Harare yesterday.
“Commissions should be adequately funded,” he said. “That includes their conditions of service, remuneration and working capital, among others, to allow them to operate independently. I am not happy with the conditions of service we have designed for you (commissions). Treasury should keep an eye on your conditions of service with the dignity that the commissions deserve considering the tasks ahead of you. I hope the Minister of Finance would walk the talk and improve the commissions’ conditions. They are not adequately resourced.”

Cde Chinamasa said if the four commissions were under-funded, they would be vulnerable to dancing to the tune of the donors.
He warned against some organisations that posed as genuine donors, while they sought to further certain political agendas.

“We created these commissions as Government for our own purposes,” said Cde Chinamasa. NGOs will be jostling to assist you with donations. Some NGOs have political motives and they may detract you from operating professionally in line with your constitutional mandate.”

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission did not have offices to operate from since its inception early this year until the handing over of Fournos, a three-storey building at Number 144 Samora Machel.

Minister Chinamasa hailed the Government for challenging the imposition of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe through the efforts of Attorney General Mr Johannes Tomana and Senator Aguy Georgias.
He said people from the West who claimed to be human rights activists actually violated the country’s rights, by imposing sanctions.

“The Europeans are all parties to the two important instruments, the Political and Civil Convention and the Economic, Social and Cultural Convention,” said Cde Chinamasa.
“Imposition of the sanctions was a clear violation of Zimbabweans’ economic right. I would like to commend the AG for his intention to challenge the imposition of sanctions.

“Also, Senator Georgias is doing a good job in suing the West over the illegal sanctions. Even where sanctions are authorised by the (UN) Security Council, they are still in contravention of the Economic, Social and Cultural Convention.”

ZHRC chairperson, Professor Reginald Austin, said the commission was ready for the task. Despite the challenges, Prof Austin said, the commission would strive to objectively achieve its goals without compromise.

He said ZHRC was a State institution that primarily should depend on the Treasury for resources.
Fournos Building was one of the properties acquired by Government through the Ministry of Public Works to house commissions and other State institutions.