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Political
violence report: September 2006 - Overview
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
November 03, 2006
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Overview
The month of September was characterised by the brutal assault of
ZCTU
members and other civil society activists on 13 September by the police,
Army and CIO operatives. The ZCTU organised country-wide demonstrations
protesting amongst other issues, that minimum wages and salaries be
linked to the Poverty Datum Line (Z$ 100 000), that anti-retroviral
drugs be made easily accessible and affordable, and that the income
tax band be reduced to a 30% maximum. The protests occurred in Harare
and Mutare. In Harare, demonstrations were held in the city centre
where 15 members of the ZCTU were arrested and seriously tortured
at the infamous Matapi Police Station. The police thwarted another
demonstration at Willowvale Industrial Area through the use of excessive
and unwarranted force. In Chitungwiza ZCTU demonstrators were arrested
and detained overnight at Makoni Police Station. The victims were
heavily assaulted and only released after they had paid Z$250 admission
of guilt fines. The Human Rights Forum notes with dismay that the
police continue to use excessive force in harassing and thwarting
civic protests. The Forum reiterates the plea that we have made in
other reports and fora that the police should exercise professionalism
and use minimum force when dealing with civilians. Closely
linked to the assaults on the ZCTU members, the Human Rights Forum
notes with concern that President Robert Mugabe condoned the assault
on the ZCTU members in a speech delivered during a stopover in Cairo
from his visit to the United Nations in New York. The President
said
…the police
were right in dealing sternly with the ZCTU leaders.
He also added
that;
Some people
are now crying foul that they were assaulted, yes you get a beating…when
the police say move, move, if you don't move, you invite the police
to use force.
In a matter
related to the ZCTU demonstrations, approximately 200 NCA members
were assaulted at the Africa Unity Square in Harare by the police
on 25 September for protesting for a new constitution and denouncing
the police attacks on ZCTU members.
In Manicaland,
approximately 180 NCA activists were arrested and severely assaulted
by the police for demonstrating in Mutare City Centre. The activists
were reportedly held at Mutare Central Police Station and rural
police stations. All the arrested activists were released after
paying Z$ 250 admission of guilt fines.
Over the years,
the Human Rights Forum has discerned a highly disturbing trend by
the police, the CIO and the Army assaulting and torturing people
in the course of carrying out their investigations in incidents
that are not politically motivated. The unbridled power the police
appear to have been given by the state to deal with alleged political
offences seems to be spilling over into their handling of non-political
matters. In three cases, two in Harare and one in the Midlands the
perpetrators have been identified by the victims. The Human Rights
Forum urges the various organs of state security noted in this report
to take cognisance of the fact that torture is a crime and has been
outlawed internationally. Moreover in a number of international
treaties that are applicable to Zimbabwe, including the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, torture is prohibited no matter what the circumstances are.
Although Zimbabwe is not yet party to the Convention against Torture,
its provisions are reflective of norms of international law. This
implies that the obligation to proscribe torture is legally binding
on Zimbabwe despite the fact that we have not yet ratified the Convention.
Thus, those who continue to commit crimes of torture should know
that they stand to be held accountable in international courts if
the Zimbabwean Government fails to prosecute or investigate their
alleged crimes.
In Mashonaland
East, where a by-election was scheduled for 7 October, it is alleged
that about 50 ZNA personnel attacked MDC supporters who were on
a door-to-door campaign. The soldiers are reported to have been
using two army trucks with registration numbers 114 HC/05 and FDE
153. The Human Rights Forum urges the state to bring those found
culpable of violating human rights violations to book.
In this month’s
report we have included tables that highlight the injuries suffered
by particular individuals involved in the ZCTU demonstrations. This
has been necessitated by the need to show the level and brutality
of the attacks on the victims.
We would also
like to mention that whilst we strive to produce our reports timeously,
any delays in the production of the reports are generally due to
our need to verify cases and ensure we produce and report accurate
information.
Totals:
1 September 2006 – 30 September 2006
Cumulative
Totals: 1 January 2006 – 30 September 2006
The graph
should be read along with the table depicting the monthly totals
of violations from 1 January 2006 to 31 August 2006. The total quantifiable
number of victims reported in September 2006 is 562.
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