Matabeleland CSOs Statement on stay away

Our constitution, Section 59, protects the rights of the citizens to demonstrate and petition without being victimized or brutalized.  As Matabeleland CSOs, we therefore condemn police brutality on citizens that has resulted in scores being injured and in the death of a toddler at Burombo Flats in Bulawayo.

As the call for a further two day stay away on Wednesday the 13th and Thursday the 14th July 2016 has been made elsewhere, we urge  citizens to remain peaceful and  stay at home so that you do not stand accused of any acts of looting and public violence.

As Civic Society:

·         We condemn police brutality and heavy handedness on citizens that has claimed an innocent life;

·         We abhor indiscriminate arrests and illegal detentions of innocent people including children;

·         We stand against the illegal imposition of curfew in high density suburbs;

·         We condemn victimization of citizens and banning of social gatherings and sporting activities in Bulawayo;

·         We urge parents not to place their children at risk and to let them stay at home in the event of any efforts by citizens to express themselves;

·         We also urge employers to act in a responsible manner and not to put their employees’ lives in danger as experienced last week when others were caught up in turmoil going to work;

·         We unequivocally condemn in strongest terms the arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire of  #thisflag campaign, in our view we feel that every citizen of Zimbabwe has freedom to express themselves.

·         We also condemn the victimization of human rights defenders including Honourable Thabitha Khumalo who was questioned at Bulawayo Central Police station this morning before being released.

We ask the Government to listen and address the cries of the citizens instead of criminalizing genuine   and legitimate concerns.