Amnesty International said it was especially disappointed by the
hands-off attitude by the Southern Africa Development Community
(SADC) and the African Union (AU), when it is clear that the letter and
spirit of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was being undermined by
elements in President Robert Mugabe's ZANU(PF) party.
As the guarantors of the Global Political Agreement, SADC and the AU
have an obligation to use their influence to end human rights abuses in
Zimbabwe. They are utterly failing in their responsibilities, said
Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s expert on Zimbabwe. The AU and
SADC have chosen to look the other way and hope that the problems will
go away. This is helping to strengthen the hand of those who fear that
the success of this government will lead to their being held
accountable for past human rights violations.
Amnesty International expressed particular concern about the continued
detention of three political prisoners who were abducted by state
security agents and detained for four months. The government appealed a
court bail order for political prisoners Kisimusi Dhlamini, Andrison
Manyere and Gandhi Mudzingwa, who remain in custody on charges of
terrorism" widely believed to be fabricated by the previous government.
Certain elements within the government are ordering human rights
abuses and the government doesn't seem to be willing or able to do
anything to stop them, said Mawanza.
Other detainees released in March, including Jestina Mukoko, still face
charges that raise doubts about the government's commitment to ending a
culture of human rights violations that characterized the previous
government's struggle against perceived opponents.
A lot of hope is invested in this new inclusive government, and they
must establish the rule of law and a climate of respect for human
rights to maintain their credibility worldwide. This is a very critical
phase they are in, warned Mawanza.
Amnesty International also criticized the government for failing to
investigate reports of enforced disappearances of human rights and
political activists allegedly carried out by state agents between
October and December 2008.
It is a scandal that the new government has still not fully
investigated the enforced disappearances of more than 30 people last
year. Nor have allegations of torture and ill-treatment by the victims
been investigated by the authorities. In fact, the state appears to be
protecting the perpetrators, said Simeon Mawanza.
The organization also challenged the government to live up to its
promise to establish press freedoms by licensing local media such as
the banned Daily News and community radio station Radio Dialogue, and
by allowing international media to operate freely in the country.
Amnesty International USA and Physicians for Human Rights are jointly
launching a petition action asking the United Nations and the African
Union to send civilian human rights monitors to Zimbabwe to prevent
human rights abuses and support the new government's transition toward
democracy and the rule of law.
Amnesty International
Post published in: News