Commissions Watch
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
on Zimbabwe Demonstrations
17 August 2019
The economic crisis is converging with the impact of cyclone Idai that hit
Zimbabwe last March, as well as the El Niño-induced drought, to create a
rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, with the result that around five
million Zimbabweans, or one third of the total population of 16 million people,
are now estimated to be in need of humanitarian aid.
Ahead of today’s planned protest, which was called off at the last minute, there
were worrying reports of threats against citizens who wish to exercise their right
to express their opinions of the economic situation via peaceful protests, with
allegations of increased surveillance of, and threats against, civil society
organizations by State agents.
More disturbing still, there have been reports of actual physical attacks on, and
arrests and detention of, civil society leaders and activists over the past few
months, with one human rights defender and one political activist reportedly
temporarily abducted and severely beaten by unidentified armed men a few
days ago, apparently because of their role in helping to organize the protests
today. In the last few hours, we have heard reports of more such cases and
are looking into them. Senior officials have also reportedly issued threats
against organisers of demonstrations or against people who take part in them.
State authorities have a duty to ensure people’s rights to freedom of
expression, and to facilitate and protect the right to peaceful assembly. In
addition, we urge the Senate when reviewing the Maintenance of Peace and
Order Bill to protect the essential democratic freedoms of peaceful assembly
and demonstration by ensuring the Bill’s compliance with the Constitution,
decisions of the Constitutional Court, and international human rights standards.
In January, we expressed concerns about reports of excessive use of force,
including live ammunition, by Zimbabwean security forces during protests
following the announcement of an increase in petrol prices. We are not aware
of the indictment or prosecution of a single alleged perpetrator of human rights
violations committed during or after of those protests. The Government does
not appear to have carried out the requisite investigations into the violence,
including the alleged excessive use of force by security forces, in a prompt,
thorough and transparent manner, with a view to accountability, and we urge it
to do so without further delay.
We also urge the Government to redouble its efforts to address the current
challenges through a national dialogue, with the support of the international
community, and to ensure that civil society organizations, human rights
defenders, and activists can carry out their activities in a safe and secure
environment without fearing intimidation or reprisals for their work.
ENDS