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Zimbabwe:
Government uses repressive legislation to put rights under siege
AI Index
46/020/2003 (Public),
News Service No: 104
Amnesty International
May 02, 2003
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The Government
of Zimbabwe is using provisions of national legislation to silence
dissent, perpetrate human rights violations and place the basic
rights of Zimbabweans under siege, Amnesty International said in
a report published to mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May.
"The Zimbabwean authorities, particularly the police, are using
repressive legislation to systematically harass, arrest and torture
with impunity those perceived to be supporting the political opposition
and exposing human rights violations. Officials and supporters of
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the independent media
and civil society organizations in particular have been singled
out for attack", the organization said.
The report, entitled Zimbabwe: Rights under siege, examines how
the government has introduced and selectively used legislation as
a vehicle for committing widespread human rights violations and
thus denying its opponents and critics their rights to freedom of
expression, association and assembly.
Provisions of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), the Access
to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Private
Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Act are examples of recently enacted
legislation which contravene international human rights standards.
The Government of Zimbabwe has ratified the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on
Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), both of which protect the rights
to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
"The Government of Zimbabwe should immediately cease all intimidation,
arbitrary arrests and torture of political opponents, independent
media and human rights activists, " Amnesty International urged.
The Zimbabwean authorities should urgently repeal or amend all legislation
which violates the rights to freedom of expression, association
and assembly and bring national legislation in line with the ICCPR,
the African Charter and other international human rights standards.
The Zimbabwean authorities should also immediately end the political
misuse of the police and ensure that police officers abide by the
highest standards of professionalism and respect for human rights.
"In light of escalating state repression of fundamental human rights,
Amnesty International is urging the international community, particularly
Southern African governments, to redouble their efforts to publicly
signal to the Zimbabwean authorities that intimidation, arbitrary
arrests and torture of government critics is unacceptable" Amnesty
International concluded.
Background
Following a national stay-away organized by the MDC on 18 and 19
March, the police used various provisions of POSA to intimidate
and unlawfully arrest hundreds of opposition supporters and human
rights activists. Many were beaten and tortured while in police
custody. Up 130 of them, including three members of parliament,
were arrested and charged under Section 6 of POSA for allegedly
inciting violence and acts of terrorism. On 31 March 2003 Gibson
Sibanda, Vice-President of the MDC, was arrested after the authorities
accused him of trying to overthrow the government by inciting people
to join the stay-away. He was charged under Section 5 of POSA which
carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, and released on bail on 7
April 2003. Another mass national stay-away was organized by the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on 23-25 April 2003 in
protest against increases in the price of fuel. In response, the
police are reported to have detained at least 20 ZCTU officials
and members in Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe and Chiredzi in connection
with organizing the stay-away.
For further details contact Samkelo Mokhine at AI South AfricaTel:
27(0)832612656
* The Zimbabwe action web page is available at:
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/zwe-020503-action-eng
* This report is available at:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr460122003
Public Document
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