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Prime Minister Tsvangirai dismayed at human rights activists' conviction
Prime Minister's Office
March 20, 2012

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Rt Hon. Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, is dismayed by the conviction of six human rights activists on charges of purportedly plotting to unseat the government of Zimbabwe.

The conviction of the six, which arises from the fact that they were found while watching a video of the disturbances in Egypt, serves to project the image of a country that perpetrates gross human rights abuses against innocent civilians.

While the Prime Minister respects the independence of the judiciary, the latest actions make difficult his efforts to engage nationally and internationally with a view to promote a positive image of the country.

The Prime Minister is disturbed that the government he serves could criminalize people watching videos as plotting to unseat the government. This not only besmirches the government's image, but serves to confirm that Zimbabwe has not moved an inch in its respect for human rights.

The PM remains deeply disturbed by this and shares with the nation the shock at the laughable conviction and the criminalisation of viewership of material that is already in the public domain.

The conviction is a grave assault on human rights and the Prime Minister, a staunch human rights defender in his own right, shares the grief of the six activists, their families and their relatives.

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