Honour pledge – Mugabe, Tsvangirai told

Amnesty said torture, harassment and politically motivated prosecutions of human rights defenders and perceived opponents have persisted, while villagers in parts of Zimbabwe have suffered ceaseless intimidation by supporters of Mugabes Zanu (PF) party. “The Attorney General’s office, police and army have been left to freely violate human rights in pursuit of a political agenda,” said Erwin van der Borght, director of Amnesty International’s Africa programme.

He called on the coalition government to end on-going harassment of human rights defenders, citing the recent arrests of members of civic movement Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) as an example of the intolerance by some elements in the Harare administration fighting against political reforms. “By delaying reform, the situation in Zimbabwe remains fragile as perpetrators continue to escape justice and are instead effectively given the all-clear to continue violating human rights, van der Borght said” Several peaceful protests organized by WOZA were violently broken up by police in 2009 while 17 human rights and political activists who were abducted by state security agents in 2008 continue to face charges that are widely believed to be trumped up. One of them, former newscaster Jestina Mukoko had her prosecution permanently stayed by the Supreme Court in September 2009 because of

overwhelming evidence that she had been tortured.

“The government must end the incessant harassment of human rights activists and take steps to seriously protect rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” said van der Borght. The Zimbabwean army and intelligence services, as well as the Attorney General’s office, have remained under Zanu (PF) control following an agreement brokered by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in 2008. The police are co-chaired by ministers from Zanu (PF) and Tsvangirais MDC-T. “The onus is on President Mugabe and Zanu (PF) to ensure that key institutions under their control are reformed to end the culture of impunity that still threatens stability in the country,” the Amnesty official said.

Amnesty’s call for reform comes amid reports that villagers in parts of Zimbabwe are being threatened with violence by army-backed Zanu (PF) supporters in an attempt to force them to endorse the heavily criticized Kariba draft constitution. The Kariba draft constitution, agreed by unity government parties in September 2007, has been strongly criticized by some civil society organizations as an attempt by the parties to impose a constitution without consultation. Villagers in Mutoko, Muzarabani and Mt Darwin are reportedly being warned that they will face beatings unless they support the Zanu (PF) position. Similar threats were made and materialized in the run-up to the June 2008 presidential elections.

“These are early warning signs that the situation could deteriorate if no urgent measures are taken to stop state security agents from carrying out violent political campaigns,” said van der Borght. “Past involvement on their part has resulted in gross human rights violations, including deaths and torture of perceived opponents.” The government has so far failed to investigate gross human rights violations allegedly carried out by security forces during the run-up to the second round of the 2008 presidential elections, which left at least 200 people dead, over 9 000 injured and tens of thousands displaced.

“The unity government must investigate past and present allegations of human rights violations by state security agents, including torture and ill treatment of detainees,” said van der Borght. Gross human rights violations have also been taking place within the army. At least two soldiers were tortured to death in October 2009 while being interrogated by intelligence and military police officials in Harare. Another soldier was reported to have committed suicide while in solitary confinement and several others are still receiving medical treatment for injuries caused by torture. The victims had been arrested along with at least 95 others, on suspicion of breaking into an armoury at Pomona barracks and stealing 21 guns. “Zimbabwean state bodies are riddled with human rights abusers that in many cases carry out violations with impunity,” observed van der Borght. “Without genuine reform of institutions this abuse is very likely to persist.”