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Onslaught against Human Rights Defenders in Zimbabwe - 2002 Report
Zimbabwe Human Right Association (ZimRights)
December 31, 2002

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CONTENTS

1. THE NGOs AS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
   INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
   THE Private Voluntary Organisations ACT AND NGOS
   
   
2. JOURNALISTS AS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
   
   
3. LABOUR MOVEMENT AS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
   ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (ZCTU)
   - Introduction and background
   - Specific events
   
   
4. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
   a. Human rights defenders and Voter education
   b. Human rights defenders, election monitoring and observing
   c. Human rights defenders and election days
   d. Abduction and detention of Arnold Tsunga and other observers
   
   
5. INTERFERENCE WITH THE JUDICIARY
   INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
   Specific Examples
   a. Assault on Chipinge Magistrates Court after a ruling that was unfavourable to ZANU PF:
   b. Arbitrary search of Legal Firm, Gonese and Ndhlovu
   c. Demonstrations at Rusape Magistrates Court
   d. Law Society of Zimbabwe; Sternford Moyo and Wilbert Mapombere’s case
   e. Justice Blackie’s case

GENERAL CONCLUSION
It is quite clear from the above summary that indeed human rights defenders in Zimbabwe are on the frontline. There is overt and covert pressure being brought to bear upon human rights defenders by the authorities and like minded militias. The deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe calls for specific ongoing attention to be given to the plight of human rights defenders as the country can not afford to have them go underground. ZIMRIGHTS therefore calls for greater networking and collaboration among human rights defenders and offers itself available for strategic alliances with institutions of like mind which have the necessary material resources but which are thin on human resources so that particular, careful and continuous attention can be given to the needs and plight of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Given the undisputed appetite and capacity of the Zimbabwe government to systematically sustain general repression, it is submitted that international attention as well as that of the appropriate organs of the United Nations must continue to focus on the plight of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe as the prediction is that their situation is likely to deteriorate further in 2003.

Arnold Tsunga
National Chairperson

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