By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Human rights watchdog, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has demanded the removal of Obert Gutu as the National Peace and Reconciliation (NPRC) Commissioner.
This comes after Gutu failed to relinquish his ZANU PF membership as required of members of independent commissions.
In statement, ZimRights revealed that they will seek a declaratory order in the High Court indicating that Obert Gutu has been stripped of his powers.
“The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) is seeking a declaratory order in the High Court that the National Peace and Reconciliation (NPRC) Commissioner, Advocate Obert Gutu has ceased being a commissioner,” read the statement.
ZimRights further argued that the former MDC-T vice president is not a suitable candidate for the NPRC post as he is politically affiliated with Zanu PF.
Gutu announced on his social media pages that he had joined the ruling party.
“Represented by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, ZimRights argues that in terms of Section 236 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, any politician appointed to an independent commission, they must renounce their political party membership within 30 days of the appointment or they immediately cease to be a commissioner.
“Gutu publicly announced using social media that he was joining Zanu PF before being appointed commissioner and he has not said anything about resignation as required by law,” ZimRights added.
Gutu recently torched a storm after he trivialised the Gukurahundi massacres describing the atrocities as only a ‘small tiny fraction’ of various other disputes.
