These follow a consistent pattern of masked and armed personnel storming victims’ homes at
night, abduct, severely torture before dumping them. Some of the cases documented between
June and September include that of:
Obert Masaraure, President of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ);
Samantha Kureya, a comedian who uses satire to highlight and criticise arbitrary government
policies and practices, Tatenda Mombeyarara a civil society activists; and Dr Peter Magombeyi,
the acting President of the Hospital Doctors Association who was leading protests for a decent
salary for Junior Doctors as well as improved safe working conditions. Dr Magombeyi was later
detained by the police while in hospital who denied him to leave the hospital to South Africa to
seek specialised health care until his lawyers intervened.
The Forum is also extremely concerned that torture continue to be used by enforcement agents
with impunity. Just a few days ago, Hilton Tamangani a vendor, was tortured by the police and
died while in custody.
To date, there has not been any genuine investigations into these incidences despite reports
being made to the police. Instead, the Government of Zimbabwe has imputed blame on an
unidentified ‘third force’. We urge the Commission to call upon the government of Zimbabwe to
ensure that the right of the security of the person is guaranteed in Zimbabwe and those
responsible for these heinous acts are brought to account.
Honourable Chairperson, despite the Constitution of Zimbabwe guaranteeing the freedom of
peaceful assembly and the right peaceful protest, the exercise and assertion of these rights are
presumed unlawful by the authorities. Arbitrary and blanket prohibitions have been imposed on
protest with those asserting their right to protest being criminalised. In August 2019, the state
issued a blanket prohibition on all protests that had been planned by the opposition MDC-A.
Citizens who attempted to assert their rights were brutally assaulted and tortured by the police.
There is also a worrisome trend on the use of military in managing protests which contradicts
international standards on Policing of Assemblies by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa. The
Government of Zimbabwe has not put in place effective and adequate measures to ensure that
the responsibility of maintaining public order is upheld by civilian rather than military authorities.
In that regard, we remain extremely concerned that the recommendations of the Motlanthe
Commission into the August 1 shootings which resulted in the killing of at least six people by the
security forces have not been implemented.
The operating environment for CSOs remain restrictive. Administrative barriers through the
demand for MOUs by district coordinators have hindered the effective operation of CSOs in the
communities. There is no legal basis for these MOUs. In addition, a number of CSOs have also
reported increased surveillance, threats and intimidation by state agents designed to dissuade
them from carrying out their work.
Madam chairperson, the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe has resulted in the erosion of
income and decline of livelihood of majority of citizens. The healthcare system is in a deplorable
state. This has been compounded by the failure by government to come up with a durable
solution aimed at addressing the genuine concerns by medical professionals.