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Statement
on the continued threats against civil society leaders in Zimbabwe
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
March 25, 2010
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition wishes to express its displeasure about the increase in
threats and harassment incidents against civil society leaders in
Zimbabwe by the police and other security forces.
On the 22nd
of March 2010, Zimrights Director, Mr. Okay Machisa was briefly
detained at the Harare Central Police Station and questioned over
the planned launch of an art exhibition entitled 'Reflections' launched
on the 23rd of March 2010. During the arrest, police seized pictures
of political violence victims depicting the journey of the democratisation
struggle from the violently disrupted 11 March 2007 Save Zimbabwe
Campaign prayer meeting to the signing of the Global
Political Agreement on 15 September 2008, which were being set
for display at the Delta Gallery in Harare.
The Coalition
is deeply concerned by the systematic, politically motivated violence
which is resurfacing over the past eight weeks. Listed below are
some of the cases that have taken place;
| Date
|
Event |
19 February
|
Summoning
of General
Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ)
Secretary General; Ms. Gertrude Hambira before the Joint Operations
Command (JOC) where she was nterrogated abouta documentary on
human rights violations during the latest land grab in Chegutu
area as a sample of the chaotic land reform programme that started
in 2000. GAPWUZ launched the documentary in Februaryentitled
"House of Justice" which the military junta perceived
as 'provacative'. |
01 March
|
Summoning
of Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) leadership including National Coordinator,
Jenni Williams by the co-Ministers of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa
and Kembo Mohadi where they were accused of presenting the inclusive
government in negative light jeopardising the country's
potential investment opportunities through their continuous
demonstrations demanding for better social service delivery. |
18 March
|
Death threats
to Director of Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust and journalist,
Stanley Kwenda by senior police officer, Chief Superintendent
Crispen Makedenge forcing him into exile. |
| 23 March |
Arrest
of Zimrights
Director, Okay Machisa after he, together with other ZimRights
activists, received threats from unknown people over thepast
weeks on their activities around the constitutional reform process. |
The continued
intimidation and threats on civil society leaders in Zimbabwe by
members of the police and security forces are in direct violation
of the Freedoms of Expression and Association protected in the Zimbabwean
constitution and regional and international treaties. The trend
also goes against the letter and spirit of Article 12 and 14 of
the Inter-Party Political Agreement (IPA) which recognises the importance
of and calls for the upholding of freedoms of Assembly, Association,
Expression and Communication.
Of note is the
fact that in almost all the incidences, civil society activists
are being harassed owing to their endeavour to tackle issues of
transitional justice raising concerns that the security sector and
some elements within the inclusive government are deliberately retarding
democratic progress.
These incidents
also come against the backdrop of a worsening political environment
in the country punctuated by the arrest of Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) supporters and increase in cases of politically motivated
violence in mostly rural communities.
The inclusive
government, which many hoped would address the challenges faced
in the governance and political arenas, has done little to sanitise
the political sphere. State institutions, which are supposed to
safeguard the interests of all citizens, remain highly compromised
and controlled by ZANU PF while the legislative reform agenda has
been shelved in total disregard of the IPA which calls for the repeal
of repressive laws.
The Coalition
is concerned about whether Zimbabwe's transition will ultimately
lead to a more democratic society or whether the country will slide
back to the chaos which characterised the period preceding the formation
of the inclusive government. In light of the above, The Coalition
demands that:
Police and security
forces;
- Desist from
summoning or arresting members of civil society on unsubstantiated
grounds
- Uphold and
protect Zimbabweans' fundamental freedoms including the Freedoms
of Association, Expression and Assembly
The inclusive
government;
- Urgently
conducts institutional and legislative reforms to ensure that
the freedom and security of persons is respected and security
forces execute their duties professionally and impartially.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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