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Concerns on arrest, detention, and mistreatment (torture) of human rights activists in Zimbabwe
Malawi Concerned Civil Society
September 19, 2006

View index page of articles and images on ZCTU protests
View WOZA arrest update page

His Excellency President Robert G. Mugabe
Office of the President
Munhumutapa Building , Samora Machel Avenue/ 3rd Street
Box 7700 ,Causeway ,Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: +263 4 734 644

Your Excellency,

Re: Concerns on Arrest, Detatention, and Mistreatment (Torture) of Human Rights Activists in Zimbabwe

Your Excellency, on September 11 and 13, 2006, your government Republic Police violently arrested and detained hundreds of members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the women’s organization called Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), for exercising their rights to peaceful demonstration in Harare and other urban centers.

Subsequently, we have reliable information that the detainees have been denied access to lawyers, adequate food, and medical care. Among those arrested include Lovemore Matombo (President of ZCTU and a World Movement for Democracy participant), Wellington Chibhebhe (Secretary General of ZCTU), and Lucia Matibenga (First Vice President of ZCTU). It has been confirmed that Matombo, Chibhebhe, and Matibenga have been subject to serious torture and suffering of severe injuries in the process.

We the Malawian civil society concerned on the deterioration of situation in Zimbabwe lodge to Your Excellency our concerns at the reports of assault and ill-treatment of ZCTU members and humbly urge your government for a thorough investigation. We also take note and concerns at the reports of prolonged detention of the WOZA members, including five babies and a pregnant woman.

Your Excellency, we are calling on your government to ensure that the detainees have access to lawyers, adequate food, and medical care as per international human rights standards in treatment of detainees. We also call for the immediate release of those arrested and detained for engaging in peaceful protests and reminding Your Excellency that human rights defenders (HRDs) have the right to carry out legitimate activities without restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Your Excellency we lastly take this opportunity to urge you to take attention on the following proposals:

• Initiate genuine Political Tolerance and Reconciliation with all political actors.
• Foster and restore respect for human right: freedom of association, assembly, speech, expression, movement for all Zimbabweans.
• Repeal of all repressive laws i.e. Interception of Communications Bill, Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Miscellaneous Offences Act, Public Order and Security Act and many others.
• Urgent stop of persecution of Human Rights Defenders, Media Practitioners, political activists and all those fighting for democratic values in Zimbabwe
• Restoration of the rule of law and order for good of Zimbabweans.
• Restoration of the country respect towards Constituonalism and Constitutional order

Yours in defence of Peace, Human Rights and Democracy,

Mr. Undule D.K. Mwakasungura
Executive Director - Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation - (CHRR)

Mr. Rodgers Newa
Executive Director - Centre for Youth and Children Affairs - (CEYCA)

Mr Peter Chisi
Deputy Executive Director - Civil Liberties Committee - (CILIC)

Mr. Rafiq Hajat
Executive Director - Institute of Policy Interaction - (IPI)

Mr. Francis Antonio
Deputy Executive Director - Christian Agency for Responsible Democracy, Development and National Unity

Mr. Edward Chaka
Interim Coordinator – Amnesty International - Malawi

CC:
The High Commissioner
Zimbabwe High Commission
Lilongwe
MALAWI

Malwai Concerned Civil Society
c/o Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)
Box 2340
Lilongwe
MALAWI

Email: chrr@sdnp.org.mw

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