The move follows the arrest of ZimRights director, Okay Machisa on 14 January on charges of contravening Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Machisa is being charged for allegedly trying to defraud the Registrar General's Office by forging and manufacturing counterfeit copies of certificates of voter registration.
Yesterday, the defense lawyer for Machisa, Beatrice Mtetwa filed an application against denial of bail for Machisa by Harare Magistrate, Tendai Mahwe on Wednesday.
The CSOs have since condemned the arrest as part of "unashamed intimidatory and repressive tactics being employed the state against civil society organisations and leaders in Zimbabwe".
A joint press statement from the 56 civil society organisations reads:
"We will from now on present our issues to SADC and the AU as well as the facilitation team on the attacks on CSOs because this is related to elections."
"We contend that these attempts to criminalise NGOs and discredit their work are wholly associated with impending elections.," read part of the press statement.
ZimRights is a non-governmental organisation that carries out advocacy and educative programmes on human rights.
The civil society organisations highlighted that they will be seeking an audience with principals in the Government of National Unity to express their concerns.
There was consensus among the CSOs that the government of Zimbabwe should respect the notion of separation of power between the executive and the judiciary by allowing courts to do their work without undue interference.
The civil society organisations said the attacks by the state were indicative of an attempt to close the democratic and electoral space in the country.
"In this respect, we note with regret and consternation, the resolution from the Zanu (PF) December 2012 Conference, where the party resolved to deregister 'so called errant NGOs operating outside their mandate'," reads the press statement.
Concerning Machisa's arrest, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum Executive Director, Abel Chikomo said; "The state is just trying to put legality to an illegal arrest. This is a case of persecution under the guise of prosecution."
Machisa's arrest follows the incarceration of ZimRights Education Programmes Manager, Leo Chamahwinya on 13 December last year, together with the ZimRights Chairperson for the Highfield Chapter, Dorcas Shereni, Farai Bhani and Tatenda Chinaka.
Post published in: Politics