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Zimbabwean authorities target activists and trade unionists

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:40:48 +0000

A Zimbabwean human rights activist was abducted from her home at dawn on Wednesday by a group of armed plain-clothes men who identified themselves as policemen. Jestina Mukoko is the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a local human rights organisation that is involved in monitoring and documenting human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Several trade unionists, including the Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Mr Raymond Majongwe and a journalist working for a South African broadcaster, have also been arrested in Harare today.

"The abduction or arrest of Jestina Mukoko is part of an established pattern of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders by Zimbabwean authorities in an attempt to discourage them from documenting and publicising the violations that are taking place," said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty International's Africa programme director.

At around 5am local time on Wednesday, a group of at least 12 men stormed Jestina Mukoko's home in Norton, South of the capital, Harare, and took her by force while still barefoot and dressed in pyjamas. An eyewitness told Amnesty International that the men then drove off in two cars, one of which did not have registration plates.

On Saturday, about six men, believed to be part of the same group, tried to enter her house during her absence after claiming to be workmates, according to the same eyewitness.

"We hold the Zimbabwean authorities responsible for anything that may happen to Jestina Mukoko. She should be released immediately and while in detention the authorities should guarantee her safety and ensure that she has access to a lawyer and family, as well as food, warm clothes and medication," said Erwin van der Borght.

The arrests coincide with a protest action called for by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) over serious cash shortages against a back drop of daily price increases of basic goods fuelled by hyperinflation.

The ZCTU had encouraged members of the public to demand their money from the banks following daily limits imposed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), which was not enough to pay for a single bus journey. Although the RBZ revised the daily withdrawal limits this week, most banks are experiencing cash shortages.

On 1 December, a group of at least 40 soldiers who had failed to withdraw their salaries from banks ran amok in Harare beating up members of the public, looting shops, seizing cash from street money changers and destroying public property. In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Defence Mr Sydney Sekeramayi blamed the disturbance on what he termed "unruly elements from the defence forces."

As the country waits the setting up of a new government, the socio-economic conditions have been deteriorating at unprecedented levels. Zimbabwe’s once envied health infrastructure is in a state of near collapse.

A cholera outbreak that started in August has claimed at least 484 deaths and 11,735 cases as reported by the United Nations. Since November, Zimbabwean doctors and nurses have been on strike over low salaries and poor working conditions.

Amnesty International has expressed deep concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe. The organization is once again calling on President Mugabe and Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai and other political leaders in Zimbabwe to urgently address the current human rights and humanitarian crisis.

Zimbabwe: Authorities must guarantee the safety of Jestina Mukoko

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:31:06 +0000

The Zimbabwean authorities must immediately disclose the whereabouts of human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who was abducted from her home at dawn today by a group of armed plain-clothes men who identified themselves as policemen, Amnesty International said today.

"The abduction or arrest of Jestina Mukoko is part of an established pattern of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders by Zimbabwean authorities in an attempt to discourage them from documenting and publicising the violations that are taking place," said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty International's Africa programme director.

Jestina Mukoko is the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a local human rights organisation that is involved in monitoring and documenting human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Today, at around 5am local time, a group of at least 12 men stormed her home in Norton, South of the capital, Harare, and took her by force while still barefoot and dressed in pyjamas. An eyewitness told Amnesty International that the men then drove off in two cars, one of which did not have registration plates.

On Saturday 29 November, about six men, believed to be part of the same group, tried to enter her house during her absence after claiming to be workmates, according to the same eyewitness.

ZPP produces periodic reports on the human rights situation in the country, compiled through a network of community based human rights defenders.

"We hold the Zimbabwean authorities responsible for anything that may happen to Jestina Mukoko. She should be released immediately and while in detention the authorities should guarantee her safety and ensure that she has access to a lawyer and family, as well as food, warm clothes and medication," said Erwin van der Borght.

The organization has also received information that several trade unionists, including the Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Mr Raymond Majongwe and a journalist working for a South African broadcaster, have been arrested in Harare today. Amnesty International fears that the authorities may have launched a new campaign to silence human rights activists in the wake of today's protest action by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.

Background

On Thursday 27 November three members of staff of the ZPP were arrested by police in Budiriro (a low income suburb of Harare) at a clinic offering treatment to cholera victims. Police initially threatened to charge them under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Official Secrets Act. They were later charged with criminal nuisance and made to pay a fine of Z$20 and released on Saturday 29 November.

Zimbabwe's health system in chaos

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:11:52 +0000

As political parties in Zimbabwe argue between themselves about the form the new government should take, Zimbabwe's health system is on the verge of total collapse.

An outbreak of cholera is affecting nine out of Zimbabwe's ten provinces and major hospitals are failing to provide medical care to those in need.

The main referral hospitals in the country, including Harare Central, Parirenyatwa and United Bulawayo hospitals, are barely functioning and some wards have even been closed.

Two government maternity hospitals in greater Harare have been closed. Many district hospitals and municipal clinics are either closed or operating at minimum capacity. The University of Zimbabwe Medical School closed indefinitely on 17 November.

The system is paralysed by shortages of drugs and medical supplies, a dilapidated infrastructure, equipment failures and a brain drain. As a result, ordinary Zimbabweans are unable to access basic health care.

Around 3,000 women per month give birth in public hospitals in Harare. Between 250 and 300 of them require lifesaving caesarean sections.

Maternity services at Harare and Parirenyatwa Hospitals have been withdrawn, resulting in many poor women being denied emergency caesarean sections. Most private hospitals now charge for their services in US dollars, making them inaccessible to the majority of the population.

The cholera outbreak in the country remains the cause of hundreds of preventable deaths.

The state-owned Herald newspaper has reported that in Beitbridge, a district in Matabeleland South province, 45 people have died as a result of the cholera outbreak in the last seven days.
Failure to contain and manage the outbreak is the result of inadequate supply of safe drinking water and broken down sanitation systems that often leave residents surrounded by flowing raw sewage.

Heavily armed riot police are reported to have prevented a group of health workers from presenting a petition to the Minister of Health and Child Welfare on 18 November. The health workers were calling for the government to take urgent action to restore accessible and affordable healthcare.

Instead, they were forced to hold their protest within the grounds of Parirenyatwa Hospital. After four hours, police entered the hospital grounds and forcibly dispersed them, assaulting several health workers in the process.

"Amnesty International is concerned that Zimbabwean politicians continue to play political games while the country is collapsing. It is tragic that dozens of Zimbabweans are dying daily from preventable illnesses while politicians concentrate more on their plight than ending the suffering of ordinary people," said Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme.

WOZA activists released on bail in Zimbabwe

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:47:52 +0000

The leaders of Zimbabwean activist movement, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), have been released on bail after three weeks in detention. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were each granted bail by the Bulawayo High Court on Wednesday.

The two women were ordered to report to their closest police station twice a week and not travel outside of a 40km radius of Bulawayo Post Office without written permission from a Magistrate. Justice Ndou of Bulawayo High Court ruled that the reasons given by Magistrate Charity Maphosa for denying bail to Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were not sufficient.

"Attempts to release the two were frustrated by administrative errors that meant the re-typing (twice) of their release documents. These delays meant that it was not possible to secure the release of the two this evening, although the support team did travel to Mlondolozi to try. The team will return to the prison first thing in the morning to collect them," said WOZA in a statement.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were arrested on 16 October in the city of Bulawayo after leading a peaceful protest of about 200 activists demanding immediate access to food aid in Zimbabwe. Police used excessive force to break up the protest. Magodonga Mahlangu was beaten by police during her arrest.

Amnesty International considered Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu to be prisoners of conscience and called for their immediate and unconditional release. The organization said that their arrest was part of the government of Zimbabwe's clampdown on human rights defenders who are campaigning to highlight the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.

Landslide UN vote in favour of developing an Arms Trade Treaty

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:10:57 +0000

One hundred and forty-seven states voted overwhelmingly at the United Nations on Friday to move forward with work on the main elements of an Arms Trade Treaty. Only two countries voted against – the USA and Zimbabwe.

"This big UN vote moves the world closer to an Arms Trade Treaty that could include respect for human rights at its heart," said Brian Wood from Amnesty International. "That is the only way such a treaty can really help stop the widespread carnage and abuse from armed violence. But there are still sceptics and opponents."

The Control Arms campaign, made up of Amnesty International, the International Action Network on Small Arms and Oxfam International, welcomed the vote but called for more urgency from states in moving the process forward to ensure a strong Treaty with international human rights law, international humanitarian law and sustainable development at its heart.

The increasingly global consensus in favour of the treaty is likely to be reflected again at the General Assembly in December. The large “yes” vote was particularly strong in Africa, South and Central America and Europe indicating demand for arms control both from countries severely affected by armed violence and from major exporters.

Twelve states in the Middle East abstained. Only the US and Zimbabwe governments voted against the ATT resolution, which Brian Wood said was them "turning their backs on the overwhelming majority in an unprincipled stand against a Treaty that would save so many lives and livelihoods."

Every day, over 1000 people are killed directly with firearms and many thousands more die indirectly as a consequence of armed violence or are driven from their homes, forced off their land, raped, tortured or maimed. Since the UN process started in December 2006, approximately 700,000 people have been killed directly with firearms, illustrating the urgent need for a treaty.

Amnesty International invited two senior military officers to brief the UN in New York – Rt Brig Gen Mujahid Alam from Pakistan who has served the UN in the DRC and Kosovo, and Lt Colonel John Ochai of Nigeria, who was chief of Operations in the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.

Rt Brig Alam told UN officials that: “From the study of DRC, it is proven that violations of arms embargo are frequent and ongoing. The complicity of governments in the region is the most critical aspect in the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

"UN arms embargoes are sometimes needed but unless we have an effective Arms Trade Treaty and establish common standards, the embargoes will neither be respected nor effectively enforced.”

The new UN decision is that the principles of the UN Charter and other state obligations must be considered as central to any Treaty. The UN will set up a series of up to six meetings of all states – called an Open Ended Working Group - to discuss the potential scope and principles of an Arms Trade Treaty.

Zimbabwe: Victims of violence can no longer wait for political solution

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:00:58 +0000

(Johannesburg) Amnesty International today released a report and new video footage that graphically demonstrates the ongoing suffering of the Zimbabwean people, as the three main political parties in Zimbabwe struggle to form an inclusive government.

“Every day that passes without a political solution, the living conditions for ordinary Zimbabweans become more and more desperate,” said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s Zimbabwe expert, speaking from Johannesburg.

The Amnesty International report, Zimbabwe – Time for Accountability, examines the impact of the post-election violence on the victims and makes recommendations to all parties participating in the current political talks on how to break the cycle of impunity that has plagued the country for decades.

“We are worried that human rights have not been at the centre of the negotiation process. The negotiations should be about providing justice and relief to people – not just politics. The Zimbabwean people are now living on a knife-edge and cannot afford to wait for the political bickering to end.”

“While the parties continue to negotiate on political details, the most vulnerable Zimbabweans are at further risk of extreme hunger. Many Zimbabweans are now only surviving by eating wild fruit.”

Amnesty International warned that with the rainy season coming, tens of thousands of Zimbabwean farmers who were victims of the recent wave of state-sponsored human rights violations are facing another failed agricultural season.

“The international community – particularly Southern African leaders – must not stand by and watch the Zimbabwean people slip deeper and deeper into poverty and despair while their political leaders squabble.”

“The setting up of an inclusive government is a great opportunity to tackle Zimbabwe’s long-standing legacy of impunity for human rights violations and build a new culture of human rights respect,” said Simeon Mawanza.

Most of the victims of political violence from rural areas were subsistence farmers who were managing to feed their families. Their arms and legs were broken from beatings and torture and they are unable to till their lands during the upcoming farming season – leaving them dependent on food aid, possibly for the rest of their lives.

“If we think the food situation in Zimbabwe is bad now, just wait until the end of this year, when half of the population is likely to need aid,” said Simeon Mawanza.

Lyn, an 86-year-old farmer, was supporting her family with food grown in her fields. She was assaulted in July for not attending ZANU-PF meetings. Her back was injured and her arm broken by ”war veterans”. She told Amnesty International, “I am now disabled. I can’t work in the field. I want to be compensated for the injuries. I want [my attackers] to be brought to justice.”

No one has been held accountable for the gross human rights violations – including beatings and torture – that occurred in the context of the elections, despite the fact that the attackers are identifiable.

The vast majority of victims interviewed by Amnesty International said that they could name and their attackers – most of whom were in the security forces, “war veterans” or local ZANU-PF activists. The fact that perpetrators did not even attempt to conceal their identities shows the level of confidence they had that they would never be held to account for their crimes.

The violations that took place after the March elections were state-sponsored and the perpetrators are known. Many were in the security forces and made no attempt to conceal their identity. Often they were using government vehicles.

“Since 2000, the ZANU-PF government has ignored evidence of human rights violations, thereby exempting perpetrators from any form of accountability – and allowing them to believe they can continue with their actions. Breaking this cycle of violations must be a top priority for the new government once it is in place,” said Simeon Mawanza.

“The rights of victims to an effective remedy must be recognised – their right to compensation, knowing the truth, and satisfaction derived from seeing the perpetrators being brought to justice – thereby sending a message that the new Zimbabwe will not tolerate political differences to be ‘resolved’ through beatings or torture.”

Zimbabwe's victims of violence can no longer wait for political solution

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:58:34 +0000

Amnesty International today released a report and new video footage that graphically demonstrates the ongoing suffering of the Zimbabwean people, as the three main political parties in Zimbabwe struggle to form an inclusive government.

“Every day that passes without a political solution, the living conditions for ordinary Zimbabweans become more and more desperate,” said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s Zimbabwe expert, speaking from Johannesburg.

The Amnesty International report, Zimbabwe – Time for Accountability, examines the impact of the post-election violence on the victims and makes recommendations to all parties participating in the current political talks on how to break the cycle of impunity that has plagued the country for decades.

“We are worried that human rights have not been at the centre of the negotiation process. The negotiations should be about providing justice and relief to people – not just politics. The Zimbabwean people are now living on a knife-edge and cannot afford to wait for the political bickering to end.”

“While the parties continue to negotiate on political details, the most vulnerable Zimbabweans are at further risk of extreme hunger. Many Zimbabweans are now only surviving by eating wild fruit.”

Amnesty International warned that with the rainy season coming, tens of thousands of Zimbabwean farmers who were victims of the recent wave of state-sponsored human rights violations are facing another failed agricultural season.

“The international community – particularly Southern African leaders – must not stand by and watch the Zimbabwean people slip deeper and deeper into poverty and despair while their political leaders squabble.”

“The setting up of an inclusive government is a great opportunity to tackle Zimbabwe’s long-standing legacy of impunity for human rights violations and build a new culture of human rights respect,” said Simeon Mawanza.

Most of the victims of political violence from rural areas were subsistence farmers who were managing to feed their families. Their arms and legs were broken from beatings and torture and they are unable to till their lands during the upcoming farming season – leaving them dependent on food aid, possibly for the rest of their lives.

“If we think the food situation in Zimbabwe is bad now, just wait until the end of this year, when half of the population is likely to need aid,” said Simeon Mawanza.

Lyn, an 86-year-old farmer, was supporting her family with food grown in her fields. She was assaulted in July for not attending ZANU-PF meetings. Her back was injured and her arm broken by ”war veterans”. She told Amnesty International, “I am now disabled. I can’t work in the field. I want to be compensated for the injuries. I want [my attackers] to be brought to justice.”

No one has been held accountable for the gross human rights violations – including beatings and torture – that occurred in the context of the elections, despite the fact that the attackers are identifiable.

The vast majority of victims interviewed by Amnesty International said that they could name and their attackers – most of whom were in the security forces, “war veterans” or local ZANU-PF activists. The fact that perpetrators did not even attempt to conceal their identities shows the level of confidence they had that they would never be held to account for their crimes.

The violations that took place after the March elections were state-sponsored and the perpetrators are known. Many were in the security forces and made no attempt to conceal their identity. Often they were using government vehicles.

“Since 2000, the ZANU-PF government has ignored evidence of human rights violations, thereby exempting perpetrators from any form of accountability – and allowing them to believe they can continue with their actions. Breaking this cycle of violations must be a top priority for the new government once it is in place,” said Simeon Mawanza.

“The rights of victims to an effective remedy must be recognised – their right to compensation, knowing the truth, and satisfaction derived from seeing the perpetrators being brought to justice – thereby sending a message that the new Zimbabwe will not tolerate political differences to be ‘resolved’ through beatings or torture.”

WOZA women denied bail, as peaceful protestors released in Harare

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:52:16 +0000

The leaders of the activist organisation Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, were denied bail on Monday following their arrest on 16 October 2008. They are being held at Mlondolozi Prison in the city of Bulawayo, where conditions are said to fall well below international standards.

The decision came as at least 40 women were arbitrarily arrested during a peaceful protest in Harare. The women, many of whom were in their 60s, were released from police custody at about 9pm last night by the Zimbabwe Police.

Those arrested in Harare were members of the Women's Coalition, an organization working for the equality of women. They were peacefully praying and protesting outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare as President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara met with leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss the country's power-sharing deal. The protestors argue that the deal has been too slow in achieving any progress.

They were charged with "disorderly conduct in a public place" and released after paying a fine. They were initially denied access to a lawyer.

They only were able to speak with a lawyer for a couple of minutes as they were getting their lunch. Their colleagues were able to bring in food, sanitary pads and painkillers for the women.

At least 30 people were also injured when the police used tear gas and batons to disperse protestors. The majority of those injured were women from the Women's Coalition. Their injuries were consistent with being beaten with batons, falls during flight, teargas inhalation and other injuries.

One activist was admitted at a private clinic for observation after inhaling teargas and experiencing respiratory distress. Four others were admitted for severe injuries and suspected fractures.

Protestors from other organizations including student, youth and other human rights groups, were also beaten by the police with batons, exposed to tear gas and some had to receive medical treatment for their injuries.

Amnesty International has condemned the continued arbitrary arrest, detention and use of excessive force against peaceful protestors by police. The organization has also called on the Southern African Development Community leaders to speak out against human rights violations and demand an end to the suppression of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and association.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were arbitrarily arrested after participating in a peaceful protest outside Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo, in which they were demanding access to food aid in Zimbabwe. Police used excessive force to break up the peaceful protest by about 200 WOZA activists. Magodonga Mahlangu was beaten by police during her arrest and is reported to be in pain. They are lodging appeals with the high court.

Amnesty International considers Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. Their arrest is part of the government of Zimbabwe's clampdown on human rights defenders who are campaigning to highlight the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.

WOZA activists detention extended in Zimbabwe

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:17:01 +0000

The detention of two activists from the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has been extended until Friday. A bail hearing in the case was held on Tuesday without them being present, after the state alleged that there was no transport available to take them to the court.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were arrested on 16 October and are being held at Bulawayo Remand Prison. They were arbitrarily arrested after participating in a peaceful protest outside Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo, in which they demanded immediate access to food aid in Zimbabwe.

Police used excessive force to break up the peaceful protest by about 200 WOZA activists. Magodonga Mahlangu was beaten by police during her arrest and is reported to be in pain.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were unlawfully detained at Bulawayo Central police station overnight before being moved to the remand prison on 17 October. The Magistrate Court in Bulawayo remanded the two women in custody until Tuesday, when the bail hearing took place in their absence.

The court then reserved judgement on the bail application until Friday, 24 October. They have been charged under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – "disturbing the peace, security or order of the public."

Amnesty International has urged the Zimbabwean authorities to release Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, immediately and unconditionally, as they have been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of association and assembly. The organisation warned that they are at risk of torture and ill-treatment, considering the long history of ill-treatment of human rights defenders while in custody in Zimbabwe.

"Human rights defenders in Zimbabwe have been repeatedly tortured, ill-treated, harassed and intimidated while in custody," said Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme. "They have also been denied access to their lawyers, families, adequate food, warm blankets and medical care as well as sanitary products for women. WOZA members have been ill-treated before while in custody.

"Amnesty International considers Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu to be prisoners of conscience. Their arrest is part of the government of Zimbabwe’s clampdown on human rights defenders who are campaigning to highlight the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe."

Jenni Williams and Magadonga Mahlangu were last arrested in May 2008, and spent 37 days in remand prison.

Zimbabwe activists beaten, arrested and detained

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:06:12 +0000

The leaders of one of Zimbabwe's main activist movements have been remanded in custody by the courts in Bulawayo since Friday. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were arrested on Thursday in Bulawayo after leading a peaceful protest of about 200 activists demanding immediate access to food aid in Zimbabwe.

Police used excessive force to break up the protest. Magodonga Mahlangu was beaten by police during her arrest and is reported to be in pain.

Nine activists were initially arrested, including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu; seven activists were released on the same day.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were held at Bulawayo Central police station over night and taken to court on Friday morning. They were denied bail. They will be held in remand prison until Tuesday, when they are set to come to court again.

They have been charged under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for "disturbing the peace, security or order of the public".

Amnesty International has urged the Zimbabwean authorities to release Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, immediately and unconditionally, as they have been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of association and assembly. The organisation also expressed fears about the women’s safety while in remand prison, considering the long history of ill-treatment of human rights defenders while in custody in Zimbabwe.

"Amnesty International considers Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu to be prisoners of conscience," said Erwin van der Borght, Director of the Africa Programme. "Their arrest is part of the government of Zimbabwe’s clampdown on human rights defenders who are campaigning to highlight the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe."

Jenni Williams and Magadonga Mahlangu were last arrested in May 2008, and spent 37 days in remand prison.