Escalating human rights violations a cause for concern
Heal Zimbabwe Trust expresses deep concern over the escalating human rights violations in Zimbabwe as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit in Harare approaches.
We condemn strongly the ongoing arbitrary arrests, abductions, torture, and widespread intimidation targeting prodemocracy campaigners, opposition activists and voices critical of the state.
In recent weeks, we have seen an alarming rise in threats and human rights abuses against individuals and organisations advocating for human rights and democracy.
We saw the violent disruption of a Zinasa meeting by the police and subsequent arrest of more than forty student leaders.
Seventy-four of the 79 Citizen Coalition for Change supporters arrested in June have been denied their right to bail by the courts with their families denied access to them in prison.
In Kariba, 12 CCC supporters were arrested and detained while in Bulawayo former senator Shoko and councillor Bruce Moyo were arrested on incitement charges.
On July 31, Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere, Samuel Gwenzi and Vusimuzi Moyo were pulled off a plane and tortured for eight hours while they were held incommunicado by state security agents.
They were later arrested and have since been charged with public disorder.
Over the past few days Heal Zimbabwe Trust has received numerous reports of prodemocracy campaigners and opposition activists intimidated by suspected state security agents, warning them against protesting during the coming Sadc summit.
This climate of fear is antithetical to the fundamental principles of peace, security, democracy, and human rights enshrined in Article 4 of the Sadc treaty.
The upcoming Sadc summit should be a moment of opportunity, freedom, community and a celebration of democracy and constitutionalism not an excuse for the Zimbabwean government to supress fundamental rights and freedoms.
It is imperative that the Zimbabwean government refrains from threatening its citizens and instead work to protect and uphold constitutional rights in the spirit of the founding values and principles which Zimbabwe is founded on, as enshrined in Section 3 of our constitution.
This is an opportunity to build harmony and embody the Zimbabwean culture of ubuntu to show the region the love and hospitality our people have been known for.
We call on the Zimbabwe Republic Police to honour their duties, upholding the constitution and protecting every citizen without favour in terms of Section 219 of the constitution and in terms of the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (UNGA Resolution 34/169).
Heal Zimbabwe calls on the police to thoroughly investigate cases of torture and abductions and bring the perpetrators of these heinous to justice.
We restate our call for the immediate release of all incarcerated prodemocracy campaigners and opposition activists who are unjustly detained.
Their imprisonment is a clear violation of their rights and a blemish on our nation’s commitment to democratic principles.
We appeal to Sadc to take a firm stand against the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe and ensure that the Sadc summit does not become an excuse for the government to further supress the rights of Zimbabwean citizens in Sadc’s name.
It is important that Sadc uses this summit and influence to promote respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Zimbabwe in pursuit of sustainable positive peace and inclusive development in the country and the region.
Heal Zimbabwe remains committed to advocating for positive peace, social cohesion and the protection of human rights in Zimbabwe. Heal Zimbabwe Trust