The arrests of human rights defenders and opposition activists in the country has drawn widespread disapproval from local and international organizations who described the actions as part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices.
Recently, human rights activists Namatai Kwekweza, Samuel Gwenzi, Vusumuzi Moyo, and Robson Chere were arrested for allegedly participating in a demonstration calling for the release of a detained opposition politician.
The arrest come at a time 78 members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), were arrested on June 25 on charges of “disorderly conduct” under the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.
United Nations human rights experts have castigated the arrests in what they say is deeply troubling pattern of intimidation, arbitrary detention, and victimization targeting civic groups and the opposition.
“The enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, and torture, followed by the arbitrary detention of these human rights defenders, is inexcusable. These actions not only violate international human rights law but also make a mockery of the safeguards contained in Zimbabwe’s own Constitution,” the experts said in a strongly worded statement.
Civil society organizations argue that the government’s actions are at odds with the summit’s values of fostering democratic and legitimate institutions.
“Gatherings of student unions, political parties, and civil society organizations have never posed a security threat. Heavy-handed actions like these only heighten unnecessary security fears ahead of the SADC summit,” read a joint statement from 44 civic society organizations.
Early this year, Amnesty International’s Zimbabwe director, Lucia Masuka, described a post-election environment marked by abductions, torture, and impunity.
“We are mainly concerned with the repression of dissent. There are severe restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, particularly during the election period. The lack of accountability for abductions and killings is deeply worrying,” Masuka said in an interview.
Critics say Section 41 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, which the human rights defenders and activist are being charged is being weaponized to silence dissent.
The government is yet to provide an explanation for the arrests, fueling speculation that the charges are politically motivated.
“These baseless charges are being used as a fig leaf to target human rights defenders and opposition voices for calling for greater democracy, human rights, and accountability in Zimbabwe,” said the UN experts.
The arrests are part of what observers perceive as a larger strategy to suppress opposing voices and includes restrictive measures on public gatherings, surveillance of opposition political activists, and the use of state machinery to intimidate and silence critics.
As pressure mounts, local and international organizations are calling for the immediate release of the detained activists and an end to arbitrary arrests.
“This is a critical moment for Zimbabwe, the government must prioritize human rights and accountability if it is to regain the trust of its citizens and the international community,” said Masuka.
Their detention puts the country under spotlight ahead of the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government where Zimbabwe will assume chairmanship of the regional bloc on August 17 2024.
