The Constitutional Law Centre (CLC), a collaborative effort that brings together Zimbabwe’s leading human rights groups, and leading constitutional law scholars and activists, is a non-partisan, civic and intellectual institution, focused on defending and promoting the implementation of and compliance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) and overall to enhance constitutionalism and the rule of law.
It is a center of rigorous research into constitutional affairs, the convergence of academic scholarship, civic engagement and policy practice, aimed at developing a body of work around the Constitution to enhance public awareness and to assist policy-makers, judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies in the implementing and interpreting the Constitution.
As part of its own institutional mandate, the CLC is dedicated to the promotion and defence of the Constitution and to be a key driver in enhancing a culture of constitutionalism and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
The CLC is a civic institution designed to play a complementary role supporting democracy.
It is led and driven by a team of Zimbabweans committed to the cause of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Officially launched on the 22 of May 2021, the 8th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s current constitution, CLC positions itself at the intersection of academia, activism and policy practice.
For the CLC, making the constitution was the start of a process; the constitution has to be promoted and defended.
In CLC, ordinary Zimbabweans return to the agenda of constitutionalism with increased determination to make it everyone’s business and not only a privilege for the elite and the powerful.
Speaking at the launch of the CLC, Amnesty International Regional Director for Southern Africa Deprose Muchena described the establishment of CLC as a ‘fulfilment of a longstanding spirit of ordinary Zimbabweans to take decisive leadership in determining the future of the country.’
The Mission
The CLC’s is mission to contribute to the upholding, defending and promotion of the Constitution and cultivating a culture of constitutionalism and the rule of law through research, training and advocacy for compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and the development of constitutional jurisprudence.
The CLC intends to ensure that the constitution makes sense to the people of Zimbabwe, its leadership, its various state organs at all levels – national and local.
The Vision
CLC aspires to be a leading non-partisan, professional, ethical and accountable national and regional institution on constitutional law and practice and constitutionalism in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa through legal research, training and advocacy. It aims to be a centre of excellence in constitutional research, practice and advocacy.
Strategic Objectives
o Promoting public awareness and active defence of the Constitution through strategic community activism
o Monitoring constitutional compliance of legislative and policy framework
o Providing intellectual leadership in constitutional affairs
o Assisting both public and private institutions in constitutional compliance
o Supporting national human rights institutions advance their constitutional mandate
These objectives are achieved through seamless operating units, namely the Outreach and Public Awareness Unit, Continuous Professional Development Unit, Research Documentation and Communications Unit and Financial Management Unit.
Constitutional Law Centre Dr. Alex Magaisa
info@clc.org.zw
Making the Constitution, Make Sense