Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) calls upon the country’s security services to uphold the Constitution and desist from violating people’s fundamental rights and freedoms through serving partisan political interests.
Revelations during a court hearing for five activists today June 10, 2016 are a genuine cause for concern.
The five activists, Pride Mkono, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Makomborero Haruzivishe, Oliver Chikumba and Partson Dzamara were arrested on trumped up charges of attempted robbery and resisting arrest on June 8, 2016.
They were arrested in Africa Unity Square where they were gathered as part of a 16 day campaign against misrule by the ruling Zanu (PF) party.
CIZC is concerned over the partisan conduct exhibited by the police force since the activists began their 16 day campaign on May 31, 2016.
It came out during today’s court hearing that before the arrest of the activists, there had been a foiled attempt to abduct them. The abductees were led by an identified officer from the police Law and Order Section.
As CIZC we are deeply concerned about law enforcement agents being deployed to institute a series of arbitrary arrests and abductions of citizens who are merely exercising their constitutional right to protest as outlined under Section 59 of the country’s Constitution.
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As discontent continues to grow among ordinary Zimbabweans over Zanu (PF’s) misrule, CIZC is concerned that the political party has turned to manipulation of the security services to safeguard their stay in power.
To us, the stance taken by Zanu (PF) is responsible for the upsurge in cases of violation of people’s constitutional rights by law enforcement agents who are supposed to be custodians of the law and we fear for the worst as the country goes towards the 2018 elections.
Partisan conduct by the security services has been and continues to be responsible for arbitrary arrests of perceived and known opposition supporters as well as torture and murder of Zanu (PF) opponents hence Zanu (PF’s) determination to stay in power leaves us in great fear of an upsurge in human rights violations.
Section 208 (2) of the country’s Constitution is clear that members of the security services must not act in a partisan manner, further the interests of any political party or cause, prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause or violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person yet the security services have turned out to be the biggest violators of human rights as they seek to protect Zanu (PF’s) continued stay in power.
The 2008 political violence that claimed the lives of about 200 MDC-T supporters was perpetrated by the security services as well and with Zanu (PF) in a panic mood, our suspicion is high the revolutionary party will employ its dirty tactics again.
In light of this, CIZC shall continue with its lobby and advocacy campaigns to ensure respect for people’s fundamental rights and freedoms as well as upholding of the country’s supreme law.
