Midlands State University (MSU) Faculty of Law hosted the 1st week of the 2021 Winter School on Human Rights at the University’s Gweru Main Campus From the 18th to the 22nd of October 2021. The winter school was part of the ongoing Zimbabwe Human Rights Capacity Development Programme 2019-2021 facilitated by Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI).
Physical and virtual participants of the winter school included law students and lecturers from MSU, Africa University (AU), University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU), Kabarak University, Kenya, and the Zimbabwe Gender Institute of Human Rights.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Dean of the Midlands State University Faculty of Law, Dr Gift Manyatera said the winter school would go a long way in sharpening student’s knowledge of human rights law.
“It is such a privilege for us as MSU to host such an educative and once in a lifetime opportunity for students to engage in the Human Rights Capacity Development Programme which will enhance their knowledge during their academic studies”, said Dr Manyatera.
Speaking on the first day of the week-long programme, RWI Programme Officer, Moreblessing Mbire highlighted the winter school’s objectives and those of the broader Zimbabwe Human Rights Capacity Development Programme 2019-2021. The objectives include the pursuit of a developed and capacitated Africa through the training of community leaders, women, major players in African political spheres and youth empowerment through training aimed at helping young people to identify, research and develop solutions to challenges facing their communities.
Presentations and discussions made during the winter school focused on several topical human rights issues such as land rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, minority rights, the rights of refugees and access to justice among other issues. Key issues raised also included the rephrasing, redefining, and restructuring of certain laws to ensure the inclusion of all members of society particularly the vulnerable and marginalised.
The winter school was graced by various delegates and facilitators among them Zimbabwe High Court judge, Justice Slyvia Chirawu-Mugomba, RWI Finance Officer, Mrs Mutsa Katerere, Great Zimbabwe University Faculty of Law Dean, Mr Victor Nkiwane and Dr Aderomola Adeola from Kabarak University as well as members the MSU Faculty of Law.