Silent but not peaceful: NGO Forum records 2000 cases of human rights violations
HARARE – AT LEAST 12 unlawful killings, 306 assaults and torture, 997 cases of harassment and intimidation as well as 27 displacements and arbitrary evictions were recorded by Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum from January to December 2021.
In a report released Thursday, the Forum said they had recorded at least 2,219 human rights violations in the period under review, adding that they found that political alliances determine Zimbabweans access to basic human rights.
The report collated data and statistics, documented by the Forum secretariat and the Forum members from various parts of the country.
Largely, the report said structural violence remains rife.
The report also gathered information from statements and reports made to national and international human rights institutions such and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and information derived from “verified media sources.”
In some instances victim impact testimonies were incorporated to afford victims the opportunity to express their feelings about the violations.
“The report depicts a very sad picture of the state of human rights in Zimbabwe. There has not been any meaningful action by the government to ameliorate the plight of citizens as the socio-economic situation continued to implode,” read the report dubbed the State of Human Rights Report.
“Instead of coalescing efforts around the common enemy of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government decided to channel its energy and resources towards fighting civil society and HRDs, who ideally should be its partners for sustainable development.
“As a result, the COVID-19 response measures were weaponised to target those who are disfavoured by the government, leaving the populations to suffer the debilitating effects of the pandemic alone. Democracy continued to decline, with the rule of law situation deteriorating. A climax was reached when the government enacted amendments to the Constitution whose net effect was to concentrate power in the executive in particular the president, while subordinating the other arms of government to the overweening power by the executive. The independence of the judiciary was severely undermined.”
This was a major retrogression in the history of the four-year rule by “second republic” led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the report said.
The report published primarily to document the state of human rights in Zimbabwe for 2021, reported that elections present a nightmare rather than an opportunity, communities said.
“2021 proved to be another appalling year in terms of Zimbabwe’s democracy and human rights record. Democracy declined significantly and Freedom House classified Zimbabwe as not being free,” the report said.
The report recommended that Government must uphold constitutionalism and respect the rule of law-Judicial Independence must be safeguarded and the executive must respect separation of powers.
The report urged Government to fulfil all its obligations arising from Constitution and regional and international treaties to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“Government must ensure and safeguard a conducive operating environment for HRDs and journalists,” the report recommended.
“Government must respect and safeguard democratic processes – In particular it must accelerate and adopt meaningful and genuine electoral reforms and put in place concrete, transparent and targeted measures to facilitate national peacebuilding, political tolerance and eradicate hate speech and other actions which fuel inter-party and intraparty violence.”
Turning to the health sector, communities raised concern through the report that the sector is still saddled with several challenges that continue to affect the delivery and access of quality health.
Corruption, shortage of health workers and basic drugs, poor referral system and dilapidated health infrastructure and equipment, in addition to poor funding are the major factors contributing to the situation, the report said.
The Forum said the work of human rights defenders is crucial ahead of elections in 2023.
“Through the work that we do we give constitutionalism a chance,” said Musa Kika, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director.
