NGEC Sets Benchmark for Human Rights in Africa: Zimbabwe Commission Visits for Learning Mission

Nairobi, Kenya – This week the Commission hosted a high-profile delegation from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), led by Chairperson Ms. Funngayi Jessie Majome, as part of a strategic learning exchange aimed at advancing human rights practices in both Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The 10-member delegation's visit underscored NGEC’s expanding role as a regional center for sharing best practices in gender equality, human rights, and alternative dispute resolution.

In an extensive program designed by NGEC’s Legal Department, the ZHRC delegates delved into Kenya’s approach to complaints handling and alternative dispute resolution, which NGEC is legally mandated to execute.

Ms. Majome commended the Commission’s “elaborate” mechanism for complaints handling and management, recognizing it as a potential model to reinforce ZHRC’s mandate to address grievances on human rights abuses.

This in-depth engagement highlighted the NGEC’s structured approach to resolving conflicts, especially within marginalized and  vulnerable communities—a model that Ms. Majome observed could serve as a blueprint for strengthening Zimbabwe's own complaint resolution systems.

NGEC’s complaints handling mechanism has been key in addressing grievances involving special interest groups, ensuring swift and equitable redress through a framework that prioritizes efficiency, inclusivity, and accessibility.

Commissioner  Caroline  Lentupuru emphasized the mutual benefits derived from exchanging strategies with ZHRC, noting that both nations face similar challenges in addressing the rights of vulnerable groups.

She highlighted the ongoing need for African human rights bodies to learn from each other’s experiences and adapt effective models to their respective social and legal contexts.

NGEC’s role as a benchmark for human rights bodies across Africa is not new. CEO Dr. Purity Ngina pointed out that this latest engagement builds on a longstanding partnership between NGEC and Zimbabwe’s human rights institutions, referencing the Zimbabwe Gender Commission’s benchmarking visit to NGEC in April 2023.

Assistant Director, Legal and Investigation, Desire Njamwea, engages with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission delegation during their study visit 

Dr. Ngina emphasized that these collaborations are vital for enhancing human rights advocacy across the continent, particularly through the sharing of innovative solutions for addressing gender-based and human rights issues. Equality

Dr. Purity Ngina, Commission Secretary/CEO, shares insights during the Zimbabwe Human Rights