Human Rights advocacy group the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has expressed concern over the current toxicity of local politics which it says is manifesting through systematic threats and intimidation targeted at opposition supporters.
In its monthly monitoring report for September, ZPP called for the adoption of interventions that promote sustainable peace in the country.
“The toxicity of politics in Zimbabwe remains alarming and a cause for concern for the Zimbabwe Peace Project. ZPP notes how Zanu PF has launched systematic threats and intimidation targeting opposition supporters in rural and urban areas. The ruling party has adopted concerted actions where opposition political players, especially in the Citizens’ Coalition for Change, are threatened and, in some cases, physically abused.
“ZPP recommends the adoption of the following interventions to promote sustainable peace in Zimbabwe: The state has the responsibility to ensure all citizens exercise their rights without limitation and regardless of their political affiliation, gender, disability, and race. The state has a responsibility to ensure that the law is applied non-selectively,” reads the ZPP report.
The human rights advocacy group expressed reservations over what it says is the selective application of the law by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has been biased and continues to be selective in enforcing the law in favour of Zanu PF, as seen through arbitrary and unlawful detentions of opposition activists and human rights defenders. The ZRP continues to be an enforcer for the ruling party, ready to arrest those who do not support Zanu PF and deliberately look away when the ruling party is on the wrong side of the law. High levels of hate speech expose the culture of political intolerance in Zimbabwe during campaigns and on social media.
“ZPP recommends the government adopt the following interventions to ensure police officers do not abuse their powers: Training of Zimbabwe Republic Police on their constitutional mandate and the transformation from a force to a service as required by the Constitution The clear separation of powers of the judiciary, legislature and executive in line with dictates of democracy and the Constitution,” ZPP said.
In light of the measles outbreak ZPP called for the ratification of the Abuja Declaration on Health to increase government health funding to at least 15% of the national budget and enforcement of anti-corruption laws in the country to ensure that financial resources meant for the health sector are not corruptly abused by ‘certain’ protected individuals.
