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Incidents of torture and inhuman treatment by the Zimbabwean police
Southern Africa Human Rights NGO Network (SAHRINGON) Information Unit
February 13, 2003

The Southern Africa Human Rights NGO Network (SAHRINGON), consisting of human rights NGOs’ in the region, notes with regret the fact that the Human Rights situation in Zimbabwe has not improved since its March 2002 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

It has been 11 months since the re-election of Mr Robert Mugabe and we have noted a decline in the Human Rights situation as images of the violent land resettlement programme, a deteriorating economic situation and resultant hardships suffered by the people of Zimbabwe have continued to dominate the media and Human Rights organisations reports.

It is against this background that SAHRINGON is deeply disturbed and concerned with the on-going persecutions and obvious disregard for rights to human dignity, association, speech and freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including torture.

Recently, five Zimbabwean citizens namely: Honourable Job Sikhala, St. Mary’s’ MP, Gabriel Shumba, a human rights lawyer, Taurai Magaya, Charles Mutama and Bishop Shumba provided personal accounts of how they were subjected to handcuffing, assault, electric shocks, drinking of own vomit, blood and urine, by the law enforcement agents of Zimbabwe. Following three days of unlawful detention, they were charged with conspiring to overthrow the government through unconstitutional means.

We condemn Zimbabwe’s failure to uphold the rule of law and their apparent decision to disregard the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and various other international and regional instruments they are party to, which guarantee fundamental freedoms.

We call upon all Heads of State and Government of the African Union, and in keeping with the provisions of the Constitutive Act, which requires them to "promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance" and further to "promote and protect peoples’ rights" according to the African Charter, to intervene.

SAHRINGON also calls upon the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to take note of the various incidents of torture and increased violation of human rights in that country. We further urge them to at the next session of the Commission adopt a resolution on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

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