publications

Recommendations

To the Government of Zimbabwe

  • Immediately halt the use of excessive force and unnecessary lethal force against demonstrators and other persons by police and security forces.

  • Stop the intimidation, harassment and beatings by police and security forces, particularly of residents of the high-density urban suburbs of Harare.

  • Promptly and impartially investigate all incidents of abuse by police and security forces and discipline or prosecute as appropriate those responsible, regardless of rank.

  • Immediately review the cases of the remaining detainees arrested on suspicion of involvement in the petrol bomb attacks. Investigate allegations of torture and abuse against these detainees. Release unconditionally all detainees against whom no specific evidence of illegal activities exists.

  • Carry out an independent investigation into the excessive use of force by the police, military, and other security services on March 11, and in the immediate aftermath, including the killing of Gift Tandare and the shooting of several other activists. Bring security officials who used excessive force to account.

  • Stop repressive actions and intimidation of members and supporters of the political opposition, civil society activists, journalists, and human rights lawyers by police and other state agents.

  • Investigate the operations of the Central Intelligence Organization, “youth militia,” and ZANU PF party supporters and members. Those found responsible for perpetrating abuses should be brought to justice.

  • Lift the ban on all political rallies and gatherings and allow opposition supporters to exercise their rights to free expression, association and assembly. Immediately repeal or substantially amend the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

  • To the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

  • Strongly and publicly condemn and demand an end to human rights violations by the government of Zimbabwe, including the use of excessive force and unnecessary lethal force against all persons, impunity for police abuse, arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters, use of torture and other mistreatment, arbitrary detention of opposition leaders and other Zimbabweans, and the general climate of repression faced by Zimbabwean citizens.

  • Consistently and publicly condemn any further abuses committed by the Zimbabwean authorities, such as refusals to allow political opposition rallies, reprisals against the media, and any acts of political repression.

  • Reach an agreement with the Zimbabwean government to deploy an independent international mission to Zimbabwe to investigate reports of recent human rights abuses in line with the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security’s stated objective to ''promote and enhance the development of democratic institutions and practices within member states, and to encourage the observance of universal human rights as provided for in the Charters and Conventions of the African Charter and the United Nations.''

  • Seek an immediate and transparent review of the detention of all persons arrested in connection with the recent petrol bomb attacks, and call for the release of all persons detained without a valid legal basis.

  • Seek to establish a trial-monitoring program in Zimbabwe for any prosecutions arising out of the petrol bomb attacks, and call for judicial review of credible allegations of torture and other mistreatment.

  • To President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa

  • Place respect for human rights and the rule of law at the center of mediation efforts between the opposition and the ruling party. To this end, consult with Zimbabwean civil society institutions to obtain views on key human rights issues that need to be addressed.

  • Publicly call for an immediate end to ongoing human rights violations in Zimbabwe, and urge that all those responsible for such violations be brought to justice. 

  • Call on the Zimbabwean authorities to rebuild the institutions that ensure respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, including an independent judiciary and a professional police force.