HRW calls on Zimbabwe to cease human rights abuses ahead of election

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has found that Zimbabwe’s upcoming election is under threat from a range of human rights abuses, including abductions, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on freedom of assembly.

The report, titled “Crush Them Like Lice,” was based on two weeks of research in Zimbabwe in April and May 2023. HRW interviewed 28 people, including representatives from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), election observer groups, lawyers, human rights activists, and ordinary citizens.

The report found that the Zimbabwean government has been using a variety of tactics to intimidate and silence its opponents ahead of the election, which is scheduled for August 23.

“Violence, intimidation, harassment, and repression linked to Zanu PF and aimed principally at CCC members and civil society activists have restricted civic and political space. The environment for a credible, free, and fair election has been grossly diminished,” read the report.

HRW stated it requested additional information from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services via email communication on July 20, 2023, but received no response.

Requests for interviews from Zanu PF on July 25, 2023, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on July 26, 2023, were also unsuccessful.

“Zimbabwean authorities have weaponised the criminal justice system against the ruling party’s political opponents. CCC politicians have been held in prolonged pre-trial detention or convicted on baseless, seemingly politically motivated charges. Further, the Zimbabwean authorities have greatly limited the space for opposition parties to campaign,” said HRW, highlighting that authorities have restricted the rights to freedom of expression, movement, and association, leaving the opposition unable to stage rallies, mobilise, campaign, and associate with supporters.

HRW said such acts contravene basic rights guaranteed under the Zimbabwe’s Constitution and violated rights to freedom of expression, movement, association, and peaceful assembly protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other international human rights treaties to which Zimbabwe is a party.

HRW observed “serious” concerns regarding ZEC’s independence, composition, and conduct owing to the commission being “closely aligned with the interests of the ruling party.”

“There is little evidence to indicate that the Zimbabwean government is ready to meet its obligations under national, regional, and international law and standards to allow people to freely vote for candidates of their choice in an environment free of intimidation, fear, and violence,” read the report.

HRW added the credibility of Zimbabwe’s election will be measured against the standards set out in the African Union’s (AU) African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

However, HRW said the restrictive environment in Zimbabwe falls short of these standards. 

In some of its recommendations to the Zimbabwean government, HRW urged them to cease the politically motivated arrests and targeting of opposition politicians, civil society activists, and journalists.

“Make sure police promptly and impartially act to protect all persons in Zimbabwe from human rights violations and investigate all apparent politically motivated abuses. Appropriately discipline or prosecute those responsible for serious human rights violations, regardless of position or rank,” read part of the recommendations.

In its recommendations to SADC and AU Member States, HRW called on them to make public statements ahead of the August 23, 2023 elections calling for an environment free of intimidation, harassment and violence.

“Call on the government of Zimbabwe to make sure that ahead of the election, national and international electoral observers have access to all election sites, are free to move throughout the country, and are able to report on any election-related intimidation and violence,” read the report.

“Make public statements noting any concerns with pre-election conditions that affect the ability of voters to freely express their opinions and obtain access to information.”

HRW also advised  SADC and AU election observers to remain in Zimbabwe for a sufficient period beyond the vote count to monitor possible post-election related human rights violations.