…Government defends crackdown, PVO Bill
ZIMBABWE has come under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s scrutiny over cases of human rights abuse, with several local and international organisations nailing the regime for victimising political activists, human rights defenders, civil society campaigners and journalists while shrinking the democratic space ahead of the 2023 elections.
MOSES MATENGA
Organisations including ZimRights, International Commission for Jurists (ICJ) and Amnesty International have nailed the Zimbabwean government for leading a crackdown against activists, the opposition and human rights defenders and pleaded for action, particularly ahead of the elections that observers have warned are likely to be chaotic.
The organisations were giving presentations at the 30th, 31st, 32nd meetings, 50th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council underway in Geneva, Switzerland. The Human Rights Council holds no fewer than three regular sessions a year, for a total of at least 10 weeks. They take place in March (four weeks), June (three weeks) and September (three weeks).
“There is continued shrinking of civic and democratic space as we head towards the 2023 elections. Human rights defenders have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, malicious prosecution and lengthy pre-trial detention in maximum security prisons. NGOs facing ever-increasing crackdown and threats by authorities. The PVO Amendment Bill currently before Parliament poses a great threat to NGO operations,” a report presented on behalf of the organisations read.
ZimRights’ Dzikamai Bere said the government of Zimbabwe should implement reforms and stop using the law to shrink the democratic space.
“We therefore call upon the government of Zimbabwe to expedite implementation of recommendations it has accepted and supported. In the face of increasing attacks and persecution of civil society activists, we call on government to align its conduct with accepted recommendations and stop persecution of activists and use of the law to shrink the democratic and civic space ahead of the 2023 elections,” Bere said.
The ICJ said there was a need for the government to allow the diaspora vote and ensure creation of an environment that is free and fair ahead of the 2023 elections.
The ICJ also condemned the proposed Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill which it described as retrogressive and a danger to democracy.
“Zimbabwe failed to adhere to Ireland’s proposal to stop the PVOs Amendment Bill. It bans civil society organisations when we are seeking for human rights defenders, journalists and activists to speak freely and no infringement on civic space,” the presentation on behalf of the ICJ noted.
Amnesty International also weighed in, saying there was no political will to implement key resolutions made previously.
“There is no political will to promote human rights. Zimbabweans live in fear of torture, abductions and disappearances,” the organisation said, citing the case of opposition activists Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova that was described as regrettable.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the abductions were staged. He defended the PVO Amendment Bill, saying most non-governmental organisations in consultations were happy with progress. This is despite growing disapproval from civil society organisations who describe the PVOs Amendment Bill as a danger to democracy and that it must be stopped.
Ziyambi said all those arrested in Zimbabwe mainly during the Covid-19 pandemic were found on the wrong side of the law.
“Those so-called human rights defenders wants preferential treatment from the law and wanted to demonstrate and violate Covid-19 laws.”
“There have been reports of violations and ab[1]ductions of opposition activists in the tenure of the new dispensation. These reports have been conveyed to the public but the target audience for them are selected foreign missions in our country to influence their attitude of their governments towards Zimbabwe.”
He described the cases of abduction and forced disappearance as fictitious. On the PVOs Amendment Bill, Ziyambi said: “This Bill is undergoing the relevant legislative processes and all NGOs were invited to give their submissions and all of them seem to be happy with the progress this far.”
Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in human rights violations under the new administration including arrests of key opposition actors, blocking of opposition gatherings, killings of unarmed civilians by the military among others.
The international community has spoken out against the abuses with the United Kingdom imposing sanctions on Harare over the issues.
