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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Marange, Chiadzwa and other diamond fields and the Kimberley Process - Index of articles
End
persecution & harassment of civil society activists
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 08, 2010
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition demands that the government of Zimbabwe immediately brings
to an end state security agents- orchestrated persecution of civil
society activists, particularly that of Farai Maguwu, director of
Mutare-based Centre
for Research and Development (CRD) - a member organization of
the Coalition.
Police from
Mutare Central arrested Mr. Maguwu on the 3rd of June after he handed
himself over following serious harassment and threats to members
of his family and CRD employees. Mr. Maguwu was charged with what
the Coalition believes to be spurious and politically motivated
allegations of publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial
to the State in contravention of section 31 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The allegations stem from
a meeting Mr. Maguwu had on May 25 2010 with
Kimberley Process Monitor
for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane, to discuss human rights abuses and
rampant smuggling of Marange diamonds. The Kimberley Process should
order an investigation into circumstances surrounding the arrest
of Mr. Maguwu after meeting with the monitor, with the need to ascertain
whether Mr. Chikane colluded with the state or not. Mr. Maguwu,
who is represented by lawyer Tinoziva Bere, was initially held in
detention in Mutare, but has since been transferred to Harare. However,
without valid reason, Mr. Maguwu was held well past the 48 hour
legal limit within which all accused persons must be brought before
a court of law. By prolonging Mr. Maguwu's detention without trial,
state security agents are punishing Mr. Maguwu for daring to expose
injustice and for speaking out for the oppressed people of Marange.
The world is keenly following
developments in this case and will not be silent in the face of
this blatant persecution. The Coalition wishes to warn all state
security agents not to harm or harass Mr. Maguwu, or else any they
will be held individually liable for any mistreatment of Mr. Maguwu
in custody.
The Coalition calls upon
the government of Zimbabwe to respect Mr. Maguwu's basic rights
to justice that include the constitutionally enshrined right to
be brought before a court of law within 48hours. Mr. Maguwu's arrest
is unwarranted interference with his liberty and with the work of
CRD calculated to cow civil society activists into ignoring abuses
by government, particularly the military in the Marange diamond
fields. The Coalition is also aware that Mr. Maguwu was due to travel
to Israel later this month to give evidence at the Kimberley Process
plenary regarding abuses in Marange. This targeted persecution of
Mr. Maguwu is meant to frustrate efforts by his organization to
expose the excesses of the State.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
stands firm in solidarity with Mr. Maguwu and all CRD employees
who are currently in hiding. The Coalition salutes CRD's commitment
to human rights promotion and recalls that CRD is recipient of Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition's 2009 award for excellence in advancing democracy
and governance issues. That state security agents have targeted
CRD is testimony that CRD has become a formidable force in exposing
abuses, corruption and other malpractices in Marange.
Meanwhile, the
Coalition is greatly alarmed at the resurgence and escalation of
attacks, harassment and persecution of civil society organizations
and activists in recent months. In February 2010, Mrs. Gertrude
Hambira, Vice Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and Secretary
General of General
Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union (GAPWUZ), was forced
to flee Zimbabwe into hiding following credible and serious threats
on her life by state security agents operating under the auspices
of the infamous Joint Operations Command (JOC). Persecution stemmed
from publication of a documentary by GAPWUZ which detailed how farm
workers suffered as a result of chaotic and violent farm invasions.
Mrs. Hambira remains in hiding. The Zimbabwean authorities have
done nothing to guarantee her safety.
In March 2010,
police briefly detained Zimbabwe
Human Rights Association (Zimrights) director, Okay Machisa
in a failed attempt to stop his organization from carrying out a
photo exhibition that featured victims of the 2008 electoral violence.
Last month, police raided offices of Gays
and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), yet another member organization
of the Coalition and arrested two employees. The two employees,
who were later granted bail, allege torture in police custody.
This abuse of
Zimbabwe's criminal justice system to persecute and harass civil
society activists makes even more urgent the case for a complete
overhaul of the system to ensure that the judiciary, public prosecutors
and state security agents are non-partisan, independent, impartial,
and professional. Without a clean break with the past, Zimbabwe's
transition to democracy will remain a pipe dream.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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