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Zimbabwe: Human rights report accuses Harare of using torture
ZimOnline
June 27, 2006

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6R78QT?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=zwe

HARARE - The Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum says court records and official documents indicate that there is widespread use of violence and torture by President Robert Mugabe's state security agents.

In a report released on Monday, the Forum which is an alliance of independent human rights groups in Zimbabwe, said about a third of all the 300 victims they had interviewed had complained of assaults and torture by state security agents.

The Forum's chairman Noel Kututwa, told the media that the court records prove that there is widespread use of torture by state security agents exposing as false charges by the government that they were fabricating stories on the human rights situation in the country.

The report says in nine out of every 10 lawsuits filed for human rights violations, the courts had ruled against the government with most of the violations being committed by police officers and soldiers.

"The army's methods of dealing with the public are often very brutal. They are sued more for torture and grievous bodily harm than any other group," the report said.

The report said the police routinely mistreat and beat suspects to get information and confessions. The report is the first by human rights groups to make use of court documents and records on the human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

No official comment could be obtained from the Zimbabwean government on Monday.

Local and international human rights groups have often accused Mugabe's government of violating human rights particularly against its political opponents.

But the Harare authorities have denied the charge insisting the charges are trumped up to tarnish the government's image.

Meanwhile, the leader of South Africa's official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), Tony Leon, has called on southern African business leaders to speak out more forcefully in support of efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis.

Speaking to the South African Business Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Leon said the business community could not remain aloof while the Zimbabwean economy, which he described as one of the region's most important economies, was being destroyed.

"Business leaders have an important role to play in encouraging the bold political and economic reforms that are needed to allow the private sector to flourish, for the benefit of all," said Leon, whose DA party has often clashed with President Thabo Mbeki's government over the latter's refusal to take a more robust approach towards Harare.

Leon added: "I do think business leaders can afford to be more forthright about their views on major issues affecting all of Africa. One such issue is Zimbabwe, where Mugabe's policies have not only led to human rights abuses and entrenched tyranny and corruption, but also to hyper-inflation, capital flight and economic catastrophe.

"Our whole region is suffering untold losses from the disappearance of one of its most important economic producers and trading partners."

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