The necessities of life such as food, health, education, housing, basic public utilities (water, electricity, sanitation etc), transport and decent work are socio-economic rights: but this is seldom known. These rights are entrenched in international law instruments such as the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, the UN Charter. In South Africa they are enshrined in the Bill of Rights section of their constitution. Zimbabwe has not legally adopted these rights, neither does it practice a rights-based approach to development.