THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is engaging the South African Public Protector (SAPP), amid reports of ill-treatment of Zimbabweans seeking medical treatment in the neighbouring country.
Social media has been awash with what a number of people have termed ‘human rights infringement’ on Zimbabweans based in South Africa, as they are allegedly denied basic needs such as health care.
The outrage has also forced the South African Public Protector to issue a statement regarding the matter.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Ms Jessie Majome, said an engagement is underway to find common ground on the need to protect human dignity in the region.
“I will be engaging the advocate, the South African Public Protector, because as we agreed in the meeting that we held last year, there has been misreporting that I have already engaged in talks, I have even seen replies in the media, but the fact is, September last year is when we had a conversation expressing our intention, mutual intentions for us to explore these issues, look at the root causes as to why there are those problems and those consequences. We need to look here in Zimbabwe as to what it is that needs to be done to save our nationals the indignity and the suffering that they have been subjected to.”
The commission also refuted claims that Zimbabweans are taking medical supplies from South Africa to supply local institutions.
“It might make it look as if we do not have any laws and regulations, yet we have the Medicines Control Act and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. That is in place and is very keen on stopping the smuggling of drugs, and, also bringing to Zimbabwe only medicines that are in use. The laws in Zimbabwe require that prescription drugs be prescribed. So all those are issues that we need to work on and promote so that the perceptions that are unhelpful sometimes and incendiary are dealt with,” Ms Majome noted.
Zimbabwe and South Africa enjoy excellent relations both on the political and economic fronts, hence the engagements are meant to ensure the bilateral ties remain cordial.
