APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Rights group Amnesty International has called on newly elected Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa to launch an independent probe into the alleged abduction and torture of opposition activists since the country’s disputed elections at the end of August.
Amnesty International deputy director for southern Africa, Khanyo Farisè said Monday’s inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for a second term was marred by “a political climate of fear and reports of multiple human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, abductions and torture of opposition party activists.”
“They must also conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, independent, effective and transparent investigations into pending cases of enforced disappearances, abductions, and torture,” Farisè said in a statement on Monday.
In one of the cases, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) last week said opposition activist Nelson Mukwenha was abducted and severely tortured by suspected state security agents in Harare on August 26.
The activist was later dumped several kilometres away from Harare, ZLHR said.
“Those suspected of responsibility for these crimes must face justice in fair trials,” Farisè said.
She called on Mnangagwa, who was sworn-in for a second five-year term on Monday to ensure a peaceful post-election environment.
“President Mnangagwa’s inauguration for his second term as President has been severely blighted by reports of attacks against opposition party activists and threats against those trying to organize peaceful protests amid a growing crackdown on human rights, especially the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” Farisè said.
She said the Harare authorities should respect the laws of the country by ensuring that all Zimbabweans are able to freely participate in peaceful activism, regardless of their political affiliation.
“The authorities also must ensure a peaceful post-election environment by fully respecting, protecting and ensuring the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression.
She said the authorities must immediately stop issuing inflammatory statements that could incite attacks against political activists, human rights defenders and other people.
JN/APA