Various violations of the human rights of ordinary people and human rights defenders have been reported in Zimbabwe since the late 1980s. It is widely acknowledged that such violations have been perpetrated mostly by the government through its different organs for political and other related reasons. Human rights violations were also easily committed against ordinary people and human rights defenders because there was no Constitution that adequately protected such people's fundamental human rights (including their civil and political rights and their socio-economic rights) in Zimbabwe. Given this background, the article discusses the protection of human rights in Zimbabwe, in the light of the Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment Act 20 of 2013 (Zimbabwe Constitution 2013). This is done in order to investigate whether the promotion, protection, enforcement and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe has now improved. To this end, the functions of selected national human rights institutions and other related role-players, namely civil society, the judiciary, the law enforcement organs and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, are briefly discussed first. Secondly, the functions of selected regional and international institutions, namely the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations are discussed in relation to the protection of human rights in Zimbabwe. Thereafter, concluding remarks and possible recommendations that could be utilised to combat human rights violations and enhance the protection of human rights in Zimbabwe are provided.

The protection of human rights and popular participation on the first sight seem to contradict the often-existing image of the African continent. However, with the foundation of the African Union in 2000, both aspects gain greater importance on regional level. Besides that, many subregional courts within the sphere of sub-Sahara Africa partially started to develop human rights-related jurisdiction. In addition to that, most regional economic communities nowadays provide for their own parliamentary structures. The study aims to examine the several institutional structures and their competences on both, regional and subregional level. Besides that, it provides for a profound analysis of the jurisdiction of the respective courts as well as the communications of the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights. Lastly, the study focuses on the correlation between the extension of the institutions’ competences and the political will of the involved governments.

"Documents how the Zimbabwe African Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the former sole ruling party, is using its greater political power within the government to obstruct human rights improvements. ZANU-PF supporters continue to commit abuses against perceived Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters with impunity. Police, prosecuting authorities, and court officials aligned to ZANU-PF conduct politically motivated prosecutions of MDC legislators and activists"--Cover, p. [4].

Recommendations -- Introduction -- Excessive use of force by Police during demonstrations -- Arbitrary arrest and detention of civil society activists -- Police torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of civil society activists -- Sustained harassment and intimidation of human rights activists.

Generally there remains a wide disparity between proclaimed ideals, declared intentions and reality in the field of human rights. Contrary to expectations, the attainment of independence by African countries has been characterised by wholesale denial of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. The author, from the Centre for Applied Social Science in Namibia, provides an insight into human rights activities of organisations in Zimbabwe; and places the need for human rights education in a legal, political, social and economic context. She argues that the emphasis has been on civil and political rights, as opposed to economic, social and cultural rights and what the law ought to be. She concludes that human rights education programmes in Zimbabwe do not reflect the principles to which the Government publicly adheres.

In July 2016 nationwide protests took place regarding the economic collapse in Zimbabwe, when thousands of Zimbabweans protested government repression, poor public services, high unemployment, widespread corruption and delays in civil servants receiving their salaries. This being a reflection of Zimbabwe's sordid state, Zimbabwe is a country which needs healing in so many ways ? socially, economically, politically and spiritually. Critical, but also deeply sensitive and humane, this book endeavours to improve public policy within Zimbabwe, so that a just social peace can be manifested in the country. Social challenges ? such as democratic deficit and police brutality ? are also explored, as well as suggestions how public education can be improved. Highly innovative and profound, this book explores cutting-edge social scientific and ethical approaches how human rights, social equality and the economy can be improved in Zimbabwe.