January 2009 1-56432-429-X Crisis without Limits Human Rights and Humanitarian Consequences of Political Repression in Zimbabwe I. Summary ......................................................................................................................... 3 II. Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 5 To the African Union (AU) .................................................................................................5 To Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ............................5 To International Donors (including the US, the UK and other EU members) ..................... 6 To UN Agencies .............................................................................................................. 6 To the UNHCHR ............................................................................................................... 6 To the Human Rights Council ...........................................................................................7 III. Methodology ................................................................................................................. 8 IV. The Humanitarian Crisis and the State’s Failure to Respond ........................................... 9 Food Insecurity .............................................................................................................. 10 Late Distribution of Farming Inputs .......................................................................... 12 State-Sanctioned Post-Election Violence ................................................................. 13 Corruption and Discriminatory Government Policies on Food ................................... 14 The Health Crisis ........................................................................................................... 17 The Cholera Outbreak .............................................................................................. 17 A Failing Health System ........................................................................................... 19 Official Restrictions on the Operations of Humanitarian Agencies ................................. 20 Attempts by ZANU-PF to Interfere in Food Aid Distribution....................................... 22 Government Non-Issuance of Employment Permits for International NGO Staff ....... 23 V. Ongoing Violations of Civil and Political Rights ............................................................ 24 Enforced Disappearances and Illegal Detentions .......................................................... 24 Restrictions on Freedom of Association, Assembly, and Expression...............................27