Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Zimbabwe (Ratification: 1998)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Penal sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for the expression of views opposed to the established political, social or economic system. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that penalties of imprisonment involving compulsory prison labour (by virtue of section 76(1) of the Prisons Act (Cap. 7:11) and section 66(1) of the Prisons (General) Regulations 1996) may be imposed under sections 64(1)(c)–(d), 72(1)–(2) and 80 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Cap. 10:27) (AIPP Act) for the abuse of freedom of expression, operating a mass media service without a registration certificate, falsification or fabrication of information, or contravention of any other provision of the Act. The Committee further noted the Government’s information that the AIPP Act was repealed in July 2020 and replaced with the Freedom of Information Act No. 1 of 2020 and requested the Government to supply a copy of the Act.

The Committee notes with interest that the Freedom of Information Act No.1 of 2020, which contains provisions concerning requests for access to information held by public entities to promote public accountability or for the exercise or protection of a right, does not retain any of the provisions which were contained under sections 64(1)(c)–(d), 72(1)–(2) and 80 of the AIPP Act.