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Political violence report: March 2006 - Overview
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
May 02, 2006

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Overview
The month of March saw a rise in the incidents of torture. In an unprecedented incident, on 14 March, armed soldiers and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials reportedly assaulted and tortured 8 employees of a hotel near the Mozambican border in Mutare. They were tortured for allegedly hoarding mealie-meal. The soldiers and the ZIMRA officials did not find the said mealie-meal after conducting a search at the hotel premises. The Human Rights Forum deplores the torture of these employees and urges the soldiers and ZIMRA officials to allow police officers to investigate and arrest if indeed there are activities outside the law that are taking place anywhere. The Forum further urges all government officials to adhere to international norms on torture, stipulated under the Convention Against Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment (CAT).

On 6 and 7 March, 7 people, 3 MDC activists, 3 police officers and one arms dealer were arrested on allegations of plotting to assassinate the President among other issues. Five of the arrested report being subjected to assault and torture by police officers, soldiers and the Central Intelligent Organization (CIO) operatives. The Forum urges the law enforcement agents to respect the rights of people to freedom from torture as stipulated under CAT, particularly article 2 (2), which states that "no exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency may be invoked as a justification of torture". CIO operatives who insisted that the victims should be arrested even though there was insufficient evidence to prosecute reportedly intimidated the prosecutor. The prosecutor withdrew charges before plea before he came back to Harare from Mutare for safety. The Forum urges all law enforcement agents to realize that they are not above the law and must conform to standards of the law when they are going about their duties.

Demonstrations against the huge tuition fees increases in tertiary institutions continued at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Students were arrested for demonstrating peacefully against the new fees structures. At the University of Zimbabwe, 3 student leaders were expelled from the University on issues related to the fees increases. The Forum urges the government to intervene in tertiary institutions and meet its obligations regarding the right to access to education for all Zimbabweans. The Forum further urges the University to respect the rights of students to freedom of expression, association and assembly as enshrined in the Constitution and international human rights instruments to which Zimbabwe is party.

Totals: 1 March 2006 - 31 March 2006

Cumulative Totals: 1 January 2006 - 31 March 2006

The graph should be read along with the table depicting the monthly totals of violations from 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2006. The total quantifiable number of victims reported in March 2006 is 75.

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