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ZLHR calls for immediate protection of families across Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
May 15, 2008

Every year on the 15th of May, the world commemorates the 'International Day of Families. The family is one of the oldest institutions entrusted with protecting and nurturing its members. International and regional human rights law to which Zimbabwe is party recognizes the family as the natural and fundamental group unit of society. These instruments include Article 23 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 10 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and Article 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Despite this universal acclamation, state actors in Zimbabwe have failed to ensure the adequate protection and preservation of the family as a natural and fundamental unit of society. The right to family life implies both negative and positive obligations on the state. The state should provide the necessary support and should not embark on any regressive measures undermining the furtherance or enjoyments of any family rights.

The concept of a family in Zimbabwe faces an imminent threat due to the ongoing political violence being perpetrated by individuals with the direct or complicit support of state institutions resulting in internal displacement of individuals and families. Several of these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) remain unable to access or are denied state protection. At least 215 IDPs who fled their homes from across the country and sought refuge at the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Harvest House headquarters in Harare, were harassed, arbitrarily arrested and detained at Harare central police station on 25 April 2008. After a successful urgent chamber application at the High Court, reference, Evelyn Masaiti and 108 Others vs. The Minister of Home Affairs and Others HC 2318/ 2008, the IDPs were released. On or about 9 May 2008, the police proceeded to follow up on some of these IDPs who had sought refugee at the Methodist Church in Mufakose. The IDPs were rounded up, forcibly loaded onto trucks and dumped at Mbare Musika where they were ordered to 'go back to where they had come from.'

In Bulawayo at least 60 families were displaced when a farm attack or invasion was allegedly ordered by purported war veterans. Some villagers have been reportedly evicted in Chivi. Several houses have been torched across the country leaving a number of families homeless.

ZLHR urges the state to respect the role of the family especially in reference to children who are the most vulnerable. ZLHR implores state and its security agents to immediately provide adequate security and protection of the law to displaced and non displaced family members. The police must desist from unnecessarily harassing, arresting and infringing on all basis rights that are accorded to family members.

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