"Who will Guard the Guards?" Statement on the Police
Attack on Civilians on 20 November 2019
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) is disturbed by violent
conduct of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers against civilians and urges
the authorities to sanction the officers who attacked civilians in violation of the
Constitution of Zimbabwe.
On 20 November 2019, supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic
Change Alliance (MDC-A) gathered at the party headquarters in Harare for the Hope
of the Nation Address which was scheduled to be addressed by the party President
Nelson Chamisa. The hostile response by the police who indiscriminately beat the
crowd with baton sticks, with booted feet and fired tear gas in the busy Central
Business District resulted in many citizens involved in their daily business being
injured or bundled into police vehicles.
Horrific images and videos were captured by the media showing shocking
unprovoked violence by the police. This brutality is unacceptable in any civilised
society. It is unfortunate that senior members of the police like Assistant
Commissioner Charles Ndoro were recorded by the media at the scene of violence,
issuing instructions to the police to perpetrate violence. This unconstitutional action
by the police is deeply regrettable and must be challenged after the events of 20
November 2019.
Members of the Forum who attended to the victims of the attacks have noted that 47
people were assaulted yesterday, including 20 women. Two children were also
assaulted. 8 people were illegally detained including a 10-month-old baby and the
mother. Of the 8 people arrested, 7 are still incarcerated at the time of report
compilation.
The conduct of the police is deplorable and is contrary to the rhetoric of the
Government of Zimbabwe on promoting and protecting human rights. (Section 44 of
the Constitution of the Zimbabwe obliges the State and every person, including
juristic persons, and every institution and agency of the government at every level to
respect, protect, promote and fulfill the rights and freedoms set out in the
Constitution.