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ZimRights/ZLHR urges Home Affairs minister and the police commissioner general to guarantee their safety
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
March 03, 2010

Despite what was thought to be the dawn of a new era for human rights defenders with the formation of a Government of National Unity, the last three months have seen an escalation in the number of threats, intimidation and harassment levelled against members of civil society.

Members of the ZimRights board last week received a series of text messages warning them against pursuing their mandate to conduct civic education in rural areas on the constitution making process. The messages were sent from the same Telecel mobile number, which is now unreachable. Nunurai Jena, ZimRights Regional Chairperson for Mashonaland West received a message saying, "If we give you a task to ask your ZimRights colleagues to slow down and forget about the constitution making process will you do that or else . . . ? Just comply."

Chitungwiza regional chairperson, Netsai Kaitano's message read, "Chipositori nekodzero, kana matongerwo enyika zvinopindirana papi? ( How are apostolic faith and rights or politics linked?) Have you forgotten the pain of those beatings. Bidi and Tsunga are gone, Pelagia, Ok, Phulu and Tshuma won't be there anymore, when we will come for you."

Jabulisa Tshuma, the organisation's treasurer's message said, "Mr Treasurer Tshuma, who are your sponsors? You are all over the country. Are you turning ZimRights into a political party? What is the motive of your donors?"

National Director, Okay Machisa who, two weeks ago, received a threatening email from a person claiming to be Dzapasi Mumunda received a message written, "You enjoy flying in and out of the country demonizing your country, why don't you go and stay there? They monitor, soon you will all stay out." In the email, he had been warned that people from Mumunda's office have been tasked with bringing him down and he should be careful, especially at home. ZimRights has since reported the threats to the Central Police Station.

But these threats have not been isolated against ZimRights only. Trade unionist and Secretary-General of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), Getrude Hambira was forced into hiding due to fears for her safety.

Hambira together with the workers union's leadership were summoned by the dreaded Joint Operations Command (JOC) and were taken to task over a documentary entitled "House of Justice" and a report titled "If something is wrong" documenting the brutality surrounding the land reform programme. GAPWUZ leaders were warned that if the report and documentary were ever used or presented to the SADC Tribunal, GAPWUZ would be held accountable.

The security agents also arrested the GAPWUZ Assistant General Secretary Gift Muti and President Manjemanje Munyanyi and searched the GAPWUZ offices looking for "information materials," last Friday.

The continued existence of JOC violates Article X111 of the Inter-Party Political Agreement (IPA) on State Organs and Institutions, which binds the transitional coalition government to ensuring that security forces restrict themselves to their constitutional mandate. This monster should urgently be dismantled.

In Bindura, some facilitators belonging to Civic Education Trust (Civnet) namely Taurai Chigunwe, Tinashe Madzimbamuto and Faustino Mukakati were arrested last week for allegedly holding a public meeting.

Last month Mr Sanyika, a ZANU PF councillor for Nhekiwa ward in Uzumba together with a group of some ZANU PF youths disrupted an outreach meeting convened by CZC claiming that it had not been sanctioned by their political party. The councilor and the youths also intimidated, harassed and threatened CZC youth committee members Tichaona Masiyambiri and Oscar Dhliwayo and CZC intern Edwin Sithole who had organized the outreach programme.

In Chimanimani West some members of the Police Intelligence Special Investigations (PISI) department harassed and interrogated a team of doctors from the Counselling Services Unit (CSU), who were conducting a clinic workshop at Nhedziwa Business Centre after alleging that their outreach programme was political.

On Tuesday 2 March 2010 police in Mutare arrested and detained three Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) employees, who were attending the labour union's Regional Women's Advisory Council's civil and legal training in the eastern border city for five hours.

Security agents should strictly observe the principles of the Rule of Law and should adhere to the laws and regulations governing their operations. ZLHR and ZimRights calls upon the responsible authorities including the Ministry of Defence to penalise these elements without fear or favour. ZimRights and ZLHR have also taken note of the renewed rhetoric against NGO's emanating from some ministers and Governors accusing some NGO's of interfering in the stalled constitution making process.

In January and February some WOZA members in Harare and Mutare were arrested and detained for participating in peaceful protests before the co-Home Affairs Ministers summoned WOZA leaders on Monday 01 March 2010 and questioned them about their activities which they alleged were scaring away potential investors from Zimbabwe.

The police and some non state actors such as ZANU PF youths have also intensified their crackdown on journalists. Freelance photojournalist Andrison Manyere has since January been either seized or arrested three times during the course of his legitimate work. Besides Manyere, another freelance journalist Stanley Kwenda fled the country after he was allegedly phoned and threatened with death by a senior police officer.

These attacks on bona-fide journalists are a serious threat to media freedom and the right of journalists to conduct their lawful professional duties without fear or hindrance from any quarters.

That civil society organisations are executing their legitimate and legal mandate of protecting and defending the inalienable rights and freedoms of citizens through such programmes as education, legal aid and information dissemination is undeniable. As such the organisations will not brook any attempts by rogue elements bent on perpetuating the suffering of Zimbabweans by intimidating us into silence and inaction.

Our conscience remains clear and we are convinced that these organisations and individuals are doing a necessary service to the nation as we stand against any acts of commission and omission that are bent on dehumanising our people, whatever their social status or other qualification.

Though not the best, we believe in the GPA the inclusive government has a working platform that, if followed, lays a reasonable foundation on which to start building a new Zimbabwe in which Zimbabweans can be proud of.

However, the elements that continue to issue out threats and demonising well-meaning citizens and institutions continue to cast an ominous shadow over the letter and spirit of the GPA.

We remain committed to fulfilling our mandates and will not be deterred by forces that are working to rob Zimbabweans of their right to enjoy and celebrate their humanity. We urge the inclusive government and particularly the co-Home Affairs Ministers and the Police Commissioner-General to unequivocally guarantee the safety of all these human rights defenders and to assure them of their security pending full investigations into the alleged threats.

Visit the ZimRights fact sheet and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) fact sheet.

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