Zimbabwe – Urgent need for security sector reform to stem human rights abuses

Two years since the unity government was set up in Zimbabwe, Amnesty International is concerned about lack of progress in implementing key reforms to address the legacy of human rights abuses.

The hope for an end to a decade of human rights abuses that greeted the unity government two years ago, is rapidly fading away and has been replaced by fear and instability amid talk of another election in 2011, said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty Internationals Director for Africa.

In recent weeks, supporters of President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) party in Harare have targeted perceived supporters of the MDC-T formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, with violence with the tacit approval of the police.

On 21 January 2011, Amnesty International delegates witnessed one such incident of violence where Zanu (PF) supporters protesting at Harares Town House were beating members of the public in the presence of anti-riot police. A high school student was beaten by the mob for taking a photograph, while a young woman wearing an MDC-T t-shirt was beaten and stripped. Anti-riot police monitoring the protest did not intervene to assist the victims.

The two were seriously injured and needed medical treatment.It is an open secret that Zanu (PF) supporters who use violence against members of the public or their perceived political opponents are beyond the reach of the law. Police have continued to selectively apply the law turning a blind eye to violations by Zanu (PF) supporters while restricting the work of human rights organisations and the activities of other political parties.Amnesty International has received reports from Harares high density suburb of Mbare where MDC-T supporters were attacked and some forcibly evicted from their homes by Zanu (PF) supporters. Police failed to protect those attacked and even arrested victims who came to report the incidents.

These events are just the tip of the iceberg; thousands of people in rural areas live in fear of violence amid talk that the country might hold another election in 2011.

Concrete reforms of the security sector are urgently needed before the next elections are held. The security apparatus that instigated the 2008 political violence is still intact. said van der Borght.

Amnesty International is concerned about continued arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention of human rights activist who are going about their legitimate work protected under international human rights law.

On Wednesday, the director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and two members of staff were detained by the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station for conducting a survey on transitional justice.

Security sector reform is needed in Zimbabwe to end a legacy of partisan policing and abuse of the law to achieve political goals, said van der Borght. While some progress has been registered in stabilization of the economy since the creation of the unity government, the continued violation of civil and political rights is undermining the countrys ability to secure those gains.

Amnesty International is also concerned that two years after the unity government was formed no single broadcasting licence has been issued by the authorities despite promises made to guarantee increased enjoyment of freedom of expression. Media workers continue to be targeted with arrest and violence. On 7 February alleged Zanu (PF) supporters in Harares central business district beat up vendors from the Newsday an independent newspaper.

Amnesty International urged the three principals in the unity government, particularly President Robert Mugabe, whose Zanu (PF) party effectively controls the security forces including police, to act against human rights violations by security agents and begin reforms to address the legacy of impunity, by putting in place an independent body to investigate human rights violations by the security forces and holding perpetrators accountable.