Back to Index

Themba Lesizwe condemns in the strongest terms the arrest and unlawful detention of Zimbabwean civic leaders and activists
Themba Lesizwe
November 20, 2003

Themba Lesizwe, a network of 200 civil society organisations providing professional medical and psychological services to victims of violence and torture in South Africa, condemns in the strongest terms the arrest and unlawful detention of Zimbabwean civic leaders and activists.

Themba Lesizwe, through its partnership with Zimbabwean human rights and civil society organisations, is deeply concerned at the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the continuing abuses of human rights.

Themba Lesizwe condemns the latest arrests and detention of civil society leaders. It is further concerned that these respected leaders will be charged under the Public Order and Security Act, legislation that has received international condemnation.

On the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the actions of the Zimbabwe Government and the Zimbabwe Republic Police clearly demonstrate that the Harare Declaration continues to be violated in fundamental ways.

These events clearly validate the testimonies and evidence given at the Johannesburg Symposium on Justice and Civil Society in August 2003. This Symposium, convened by Themba Lesizwe under the auspices of the Southern African Trauma Coalition and in cooperation with the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the International Bar Association, issued a Declaration whose terms are even more relevant today than in August.

The arrest of activists, many of who took part in this Symposium, constitutes a very serious attack on human rights and on the freedom of association and expression.

We express our great concern both for the activists detained as well as for the many Zimbabweans who depend on the services of the organisation they represent.
We make the following demands on the Zimbabwean Government:

1. That there be an immediate end to political violence and intimidation,
2. That there be an immediate repeal of all repressive legislation and unjust laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), and charges brought before the repeal of these laws should be withdrawn and sentences previously imposed be annulled;
3. That there be an immediate opening up of political space,
4. That the economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe be immediately addressed.

For further comment please contact:
Francois Dronnet, Director: Themba Lesizwe at 083 275 0802
Ashley Green-Thompson, Programme manager: Themba Lesizwe at 083 442 4497

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP