 According to Amnesty International the Zimbabwe government had intensified state sponsored violence through the use of the police force, army and the national youth militias.
 The human rights watchdog also expressed concern on the fact that more violations had taken place even under the current mediations which are being initiated by Southern Africa Development Community, (SADC).
“We have collected evidence from a wide range of sources, including victims, doctors and lawyers, showing how some units – particularly the Law and Order Section – within the Zimbabwean police enjoy total impunity for human rights violations perpetrated against government critics.”
“Police stop small demonstrations by just scores of human rights defenders. Once in police custody, human rights defenders and MDC members are severely assaulted and denied access to lawyers, food and medical care,” read part of the AI’s recent report.
 Some members of the National Constitutional Assembly were brutally assaulted by the police whilst the chief mediator, President Thabo Mbeki was in the country on his way to the Commonwealth summit in Uganda.
The report also added that the current ongoing mediations were supposed to show signs of improvements in the human rights issue especially considering that elections would be held soon.
“The current SADC mediation process must prioritise human rights concerns. SADC leaders should demand that the government takes immediate steps to ensure respect for human rights by the Zimbabwean police,” the report said.
Post published in: News