HARARE - The United States expressed concern Thursday about the arrest and alleged torture of 46 social and human rights activists charged with treason for watching the Arab unrest on TV, with Washington urging Harare to respect the the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
On February 19, former Movement for Democratic Change Member of Parliament Munyaradzi Gwisai, a University of Zimbabwe professor, and 45 other labor union and student activists “who had gathered peacefully to discuss recent events in Egypt” were arrested and charged with treason, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said in a statement.
Other political and civil society activists have also been arrested, he said.
“Gwisai’s defense attorney has reported that several of the 46 people were tortured while in custody, and we understand that the magistrate has ordered physical examinations to substantiate those claims,” he said. “We call on the government to provide medical attention for those who need it and, if torture occurred, to take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The State has dithered on the accused’s bail ruling, with the trial magistrate said to be taking instructions from the Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku. They are due to appear in court on March 7 and meanwhile they have been transferred to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Crowley called on the government of Zimbabwe to uphold rights spelled out under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to ensure that those arrested are guaranteed due process.
The arrests have drawn international condemnation, including from the United Nations which urged Harare to guarantee its citizens freedom of expression and freedom of assembly under Zimbabwean and international law. The UN rights cief said the arrest were a “step back.”
Zimbabwean authorities said the 46 people were arrested and charged with treason after guests were shown videos of the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia wduring lecture series last Saturday in what police claim was a gathering called to motivate the people to subvert a constitutionally-elected government.
“On 16 February they held a meeting and the purpose of the meeting was to organize, strategize and implement the removal of a constitutional government of Zimbabwe by unconstitutional means, the Tunisian-Egyptian way,” prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba said in court.
At least 12 of them suffered falanga adminstered with broomsticks on soles of their feet and were also beaten on their buttocks, according to defense attorney Alec Muchadehama. Trreason carries is punishable by death in Zimbabwe.
“We call on the government to provide medical attention for those who need it and, if torture occurred, to take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Crowley said. “We will follow closely the planned announcement of a ruling on the merits of the treason charges on March 7.” Their lawyer says there is no basis to charge them with treason.
“If watching television footage of the uprisings was treason, most Zimbabweans would be guilty of it because we watch news daily,” Muchadehama said.
Crowley said: “Zimbabwe has acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as such, has an obligation to uphold and ensure enjoyment of its peoples rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion and expression, and protection from arbitrary arrest or detention. We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold those rights and to ensure due process for those arrested.”
Robert Mugabe, 87, has been Zimbabwe’s sole ruler for 31 years and just like his toppled contemporaries Mubarak and Ben Ali, he has maintained power trough electoral theft and repressive laws.
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