Amnesty says crackdown on dissent and lack of basic rights plague Zimbabwe
Amnesty International’s annual report paints a grim picture of Zimbabwe, highlighting a trend of violation of human rights and suppression of dissenting voices.
The organisation documented numerous cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and killings targeting opposition members, activists, and journalists.
Amnesty further established that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election in August 2023 was marred by a significant crackdown on dissent.
New legislation, including the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Act, was seen as a tool to silence critics with harsh penalties for peaceful protests and expressions of dissent.
University students were arrested for protesting against the detention of opposition politicians, highlighting the stifled atmosphere.
The organisation claims that opposition party members were the primary targets of repression.
Amnesty International documented abductions, torture, and even killings by suspected state agents targeting CCC activists. In one instance, CCC activist Tinashe Chitsunge was reportedly stoned to death by ruling party supporters.
“Opposition members, or those associated with the opposition, bore the brunt of the wide scale repression of dissent, including arbitrary detention and prosecution.
“New legislation imposed further restrictions on and harsh penalties against activists and critics. Plain-clothes state agents abducted political activists, tortured them, and killed one man. At least one activist was reportedly killed by ruling party supporters,” the report noted.
It is also reported that the regime used the justice system to silence dissenters rather than uphold justice. This allegedly resulted in opposition figures like Fadzayi Mahere and Job Sikhala facing trumped-up charges and lengthy detentions before acquittals.
Lawyers representing victims of torture were themselves arrested on obstruction charges, the report says.
While the government made a pledge to address the lack of clean water, little progress was made. Cholera outbreak claimed over 100 lives, exposing the vulnerability of Zimbabweans due to inadequate infrastructure and sanitation.
The report further notes that women and girls continued to face challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. The high cost of services and a lack of comprehensive sex education left many girls and women particularly vulnerable.
“Gaps in the legal framework relating to access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents persisted.
“Parliament continued to fail to make the necessary amendments to the Public Health Act to allow health workers to provide sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents without their parents’ consent.
“In addition, the cost of essential healthcare services proved prohibitive for many women and girls and there was a failure to provide comprehensive sex education in schools,” the non-governmental organisation said.
Amnesty International called on the Zimbabwean government to end the repression of dissent, ensure accountability for human rights abuses, and prioritize the well-being of all Zimbabweans.
