Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on Zimbabwean authorities to cease their crackdown on opposition and civil society members ahead of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit scheduled for August 17 in Harare.
In a joint statement on Friday, the organisations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested over the past two months for allegedly exercising their rights to the freedom of assembly.
“Since mid-June, Zimbabwean authorities have conducted a massive crackdown on dissent. More than 160 people have been arrested so far, including elected officials, opposition members, union leaders, students and journalists,” said Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
The crackdown began on June 16 when police raided the home of main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change party leader Jameson Timba during a private gathering, arresting 78 people.
Police allegedly used tear gas and batons, resulting in multiple injuries, including one requiring surgery.
On June 24, police arrested 44 members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union for “disorderly conduct” after they were found holding an unsanctioned meeting. They were released after paying fines.
Farise accused Zimbabwean security forces of using tear-gas on people in private residences, savagely beating up people to the point of victims requiring hospitalisation, and torturing people in custody.
“The authorities must stop committing such violations and immediately release all detainees,” Farise said.
Human Rights Watch senior Africa researcher Idriss Ali Nassah said more than 30 of the arrests have occurred since August 1, including a parliamentarian and 13 others in Kariba town, a city council member, a senator and a religious leader.
“The serious violations we are witnessing, including violent attacks, abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests and other abuses against the opposition, government critics and activists are just the latest example of the failure of President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa’s government to promote, protect and respect basic human rights,” Nassah said.
In the latest incident, masked people allegedly attempted to break into the Harare offices of civil society organisation Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on Thursday.
The human rights groups also urged authorities to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, holding perpetrators accountable through fair proceedings.
They called on SADC to demand an end to these human rights violations as Mnangagwa prepares to assume the bloc’s leadership.
The Zimbabwean government denies the allegations, accusing the opposition of using falsehoods to tarnish the country’s image ahead of the SADC summit.
JN/APA