Andrew Makoni, who chairs the organisations board, told members at the annual general meeting in Harare that human rights excesses were still increasing, despite the formation of the coalition government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The society we live in is still not the best place to be. Its unstable, uncertain and unjust. We have an inclusive government that has become exclusive, with partners in the same government singing from different hymn booksHuman rights continue to be violated with impunity. The perpetrators who are known are unaccountable and continue to confidently roam the streets realising that they are untouchable, said Makoni.
The award-winning human rights lawyer lamented the polices role in depriving people of their right to assembly and association as evidenced by the banning of meetings and demonstrations.
WOZA is the face of the struggle for our rights to assembly and associate and have been in and out of court more than any other organisation. Their determination is commendable, said Makoni.
Makoni noted that human rights lawyers had not been spared from arrest and harassment, as proven by the arrest of prominent human rights lawyers Alec Muchadehama and Mordecai Mahlangu for carrying out their professional duties.
He said the Attorney-Generals Office continued on its path of selective application of the law, choosing who to prosecute and who to protect or shield while draconian pieces of legislation remained on the countrys statute books.
Makoni said the constitution-making process has been a circus.
In fact the exercise is a demonstration of how not to make a democratic constitution, he said.
The ZLHR board chairman said despite the difficult operating environment, the organisations members and staff remained undeterred and continued to assist human rights defenders at great personal sacrifice.
Post published in: Politics