Zimbabwe Peace Project records 289 human rights violations by security forces in July
By Edward Makuzva
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), through its wide, national network of human rights monitors, has recorded a worrying trend, where the State security agents, mainly the police and the soldiers, have been the major perpetrators of human rights violations during the past four months.
The Report added that during the month of July alone, ZPP recorded 48 cases of unlawful detention, 68 cases of assault and 168 cases of harassment and intimidation, 15 cases of abduction and torture, with the majority of these being attributable to state security agents.
The Report Highlighted that the State security agents contributed to a combined 80.66 percent of all human rights violations this month .
The state security agents have used the Covid-19 lockdown period to stifle basic human rights.
“It is true that indeed, in recent weeks human rights actors, political activists and the general citizens have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, abductions and torture for merely expressing discontent with how government is running the affairs of the State.
“Zimbabwe is experiencing one of its worst human rights crises in decades and the State has flagrantly violated the rights of some of the detained, like journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and political leader Jacob Ngarivhume, as well as human rights activist Godfrey Kurauone”, said the Report.
After being transferred to Chikurubi maximum security prison, Chino’ono and Ngarivhume were denied confidential access to their lawyers as prescribed by the law.
The Report added that the two were also denied access to special food, which they need based on their dietary requirements.
Meanwhile, the ruling party, Zanu PF has incited violence through its acting party spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa, being the ruling party and having control of the State security apparatus, Chinamasa virtually declared war against citizens and non supporters of Zanu PF.
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