‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’, CLOSED FOR DISSENT CRACKDOWN IN ZIMBABWE DURING THE NATIONAL STAY-AWAY 14-16 JANUARY 2019 The crushing of dissent and crackdown on protests in Zimbabwe has continued, despite the first change of leadership in 2017. During and after a national stay-away in January 2019, at least 15 people were shot and killed by security forces, over 78 were treated for gunshot wounds, over 1000 were arbitrarily arrested and hundreds have been prosecuted in fast-tracked trials on charges of public violence or subverting a constitutional government. Civil society and political party activists have been targeted for exercising their right to freedom of expression, peaceful protest and assembly. Some women have been raped and children incarcerated after being abducted and detained in dragnet arrests across the country. This has resulted in fear gripping Zimbabwe, with many civil society leaders going into hiding for their protection. This Briefing exposes the instruments of suppression used by the Zimbabwean authorities to disperse assemblies, silence dissent and clampdown on protestors and ordinary people calling on the state to improve their livelihoods and demanding accountability. Armed security forces have committed atrocities, including torture, against civilians with impunity during and after national protests, in violation of Zimbabwe’s obligations under its Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Those suspected of perpetrating the killings, rape and torture of people must be held accountable and prosecuted in fair trials. INDEX: AFR 46/9824/2019 FEBRUARY 2019 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH amnesty.org