ZIMBABWE took a battering for its suppression of human rights defenders in Banjul, The Gambia last week with speakers warning that the country was receding into the dark past of wanton arrests.
BY OUR STAFF
At an event organised by the Robert Kennedy Centre for Justice & Human Rights (RFK Centre), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (NGO Forum), over 50 of top human rights advocates from the continent noted the current shrinking space for civil society in the country.
In recent months, Zimbabwe has banned shortwave radios and suppressed the rights of groups such as Women of Zimbabwe Arise to engage in peaceful protest and public demonstration.
Top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was arrested last month for obstructing the course of justice after she had gone to represent Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s communications office staffers — Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde, Mehluli Tshuma and Warship Dumba — who had been arrested over allegations of possessing materials that could be used to commit offences and for impersonating police.
Mtetwa’s case is set for trial on May 27. PM’s staffers’ case goes on trial on May 13.
“Zimbabwe’s troubles from 2008-9 have returned,” said ZLHR’s Dzimbabwe Chimbga.
“Over 400 human rights defenders have been targeted by the government in various ways in recent months.”
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Wade McMullen, Staff Attorney for the RFK Centre, added deep concerns regarding the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as Zimbabwe cracks down on any group seemingly critical of the government.
“There is a clear pattern of violation of these fundamental rights protected by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international treaties,” McMullen said.
