Human rights organisation Amnesty International has condemned the recent wave of human rights violations in Zimbabwe, including arbitrary arrests, abductions, and torture of political activists.
In a statement, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, Khanyo Farisè, said that the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday was blighted by these reports.
“President Mnangagwa’s inauguration for his second term as President has been severely blighted by reports of attacks against opposition party activists and threats against those trying to organize peaceful protests amid a growing crackdown on human rights, especially the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” Farisè said.
She pointed to the case of Womberaiishe Nhende, the elected Councillor for Glen Norah Ward 27 in Harare, who was abducted and tortured on September 2.
“Nobody should be persecuted simply for exercising their human rights. Everyone, regardless of their political affiliation, should be able to freely participate in peaceful activism without fear of abduction or harm,” Farisè said.
She called on the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately stop issuing inflammatory statements that could incite attacks against political activists, human rights defenders, and other people.
Farisè also called on the authorities to ensure a peaceful post-election environment by fully respecting, protecting, and ensuring the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and expression.
“The authorities must also conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, independent, effective, and transparent investigations into pending cases of enforced disappearances, abductions, and torture,” she said.
“Those suspected of responsibility for these crimes must face justice in fair trials. Victims and their families must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies.”
