A respected human rights campaigner and 31 other
activists in Zimbabwe will remain in jail over New Year's after a High Court
judge postponed an application for their release until Friday.
Zimbabwe Peace Project leader Jestina Mukoko and the other detainees are
accused of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe, who has been in
power since 1980.
Opposition leaders say the detentions are part of Mugabe's clampdown on
pro-democracy activists and are further evidence of his determination to
keep control of his stricken nation in defiance of a power-sharing
agreement.
"The year ahead, 2009, looks grim," Grace Mutandwa, a Zimbabwean staff
member at the British Embassy in Harare, wrote in a blog. "Many in Zimbabwe
would like to forget 2008 but this is something we might not be able to do."
Once a source of regional pride, Zimbabwe has been crippled by galloping
hyperinflation - one egg now costs 300 million Zimbabwe dollars. There is
mass unemployment and worsening malnutrition, and the country's education
and health systems are collapsing.
The southern African nation's power, water and sewage treatment systems are
in total disrepair, and a cholera epidemic has killed more than 1,600 people
since August.
The international Red Cross said Wednesday it has deployed seven emergency
response units throughout Zimbabwe to combat the worsening cholera crisis.
The units - specialized teams that are fully self-sufficient for one month -
are usually only deployed in the most critical humanitarian situations, such
as the Indian Ocean tsunami and large earthquakes.
Tammam Aloudat, a Red Cross emergency health officer, said the mobile units
would be able to reach rural communities. Currently 43 percent of cholera
victims in Zimbabwe are dying before they can reach a treatment center, even
though the disease is easily treatable, he said.
Activists say the humanitarian crisis has been accompanied by increasing
repression in recent weeks.
Defense attorney Beatrice Mtetwa said state lawyers conceded Wednesday for
the first time that state security agents abducted Mukoko from her home in
early December. For weeks police had denied they were holding the peace
activist.
High Court Judge Alphias Chitakunye on Wednesday postponed a defense
application for the immediate release of Mukoko and the other detainees
until Friday.
Mtetwa said police have defied at least two court orders to free them and
ignored a magistrate's ruling that they be allowed visits from private
doctors after they appeared in court Monday with swollen and bloodied faces.
The defense team also demanded that the police commissioner and attorney
general be summoned to the High Court for contempt. A Dec. 24 ruling said
the activists should be transferred to a hospital for investigation of
alleged torture.
The High Court applications came shortly after a magistrate ordered them to
stay in custody until Monday.
Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe also ordered five officials with the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change to remain in detention to Jan. 5 on
allegations of involvement in two minor bombings at the main Harare police
station earlier this year and a small explosion at a bridge outside Harare.
They included a close adviser to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his
party's head of security.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Monday, March 5, 2007
Zimbabwe police gear up for opposition protests
Monday 05 March 2007
By Thabani Mlilo and Brian Ncube
HARARE - Zimbabwe Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has cancelled leave
for officers and beefed up manpower in Harare and Bulawayo in preparation
for possible opposition protests in the two cities, as political tension
mounts in the southern African country.
In a memo addressed to all police stations last Tuesday but made available
to ZimOnline at the weekend, titled, "Cancellation of Leave and Placement of
Members on Standby," reference number MJ57/2007, Chihuri cancelled all leave
and placed all officers on alert.
"All police officers who had been granted leave should return to their
respective stations with immediate effect and be deployed as commanded by
their provincial commanders.
"The dress order of the day will be full riot gear until further notice and
those members who remain at stations should be alert for urgent calls of
action," read part of the memo.
In a separate memo, also written last week, highlighting rising tensions in
Zimbabwe, Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources Barbara Mandizha, ordered
police stations around the country to compile lists of "able-bodied"
officers for immediate transfer to Harare and Bulawayo.
Sources at the police headquarters in Harare told ZimOnline at the weekend
that the transfer was a "pro-active" strategy to prepare for possible
protests in the two cities, both strongholds of the main opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
"All provincial commanders are directed to submit a list of able-bodied
members for immediate transfer to Harare and Bulawayo.
"Commanders should treat this matter with urgency as this is a directive
from the Minister (of Home Affairs). No excuses should be entertained as
this is a national call," says the memo.
Political tensions have risen sharply in Zimbabwe over the past few months
as a steep economic crisis takes its toll on a population grappling with the
world's highest inflation rate of nearly 1 600 percent, surging unemployment
and poverty.
The tensions worsened after the ruling ZANU PF party proposed last December
to extend President Robert Mugabe's term which was due to end next year by
two more years to 2010.
Both factions of the MDC and civic groups have vowed to take to the streets
to force Mugabe not to extend his term arguing that the country could not
bear to have the veteran president in power for two more years.
Two weeks ago, the police fought running battles with MDC supporters in the
working class suburb of Highfield as they sought to block the opposition
party led by Morgan Tsvangirai from holding a rally to launch the party's
campaign for next year's presidential election.
The Zimbabwe government has banned protests and rallies following the
violent protests in Highfield. The MDC says the ban amounted to a
declaration of a state of emergency by the Harare authorities.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena refused to comment on the matter saying
he is not at liberty to discuss matters of strategy with the Press.
"I am sorry this is an issue of strategy that cannot be discussed with the
Press. In any case, transfers are a normal phenomenon in any organization.
So why should it raise eyebrows?" he said.
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi could not be reached for comment on the
matter.
By Thabani Mlilo and Brian Ncube
HARARE - Zimbabwe Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has cancelled leave
for officers and beefed up manpower in Harare and Bulawayo in preparation
for possible opposition protests in the two cities, as political tension
mounts in the southern African country.
In a memo addressed to all police stations last Tuesday but made available
to ZimOnline at the weekend, titled, "Cancellation of Leave and Placement of
Members on Standby," reference number MJ57/2007, Chihuri cancelled all leave
and placed all officers on alert.
"All police officers who had been granted leave should return to their
respective stations with immediate effect and be deployed as commanded by
their provincial commanders.
"The dress order of the day will be full riot gear until further notice and
those members who remain at stations should be alert for urgent calls of
action," read part of the memo.
In a separate memo, also written last week, highlighting rising tensions in
Zimbabwe, Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources Barbara Mandizha, ordered
police stations around the country to compile lists of "able-bodied"
officers for immediate transfer to Harare and Bulawayo.
Sources at the police headquarters in Harare told ZimOnline at the weekend
that the transfer was a "pro-active" strategy to prepare for possible
protests in the two cities, both strongholds of the main opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
"All provincial commanders are directed to submit a list of able-bodied
members for immediate transfer to Harare and Bulawayo.
"Commanders should treat this matter with urgency as this is a directive
from the Minister (of Home Affairs). No excuses should be entertained as
this is a national call," says the memo.
Political tensions have risen sharply in Zimbabwe over the past few months
as a steep economic crisis takes its toll on a population grappling with the
world's highest inflation rate of nearly 1 600 percent, surging unemployment
and poverty.
The tensions worsened after the ruling ZANU PF party proposed last December
to extend President Robert Mugabe's term which was due to end next year by
two more years to 2010.
Both factions of the MDC and civic groups have vowed to take to the streets
to force Mugabe not to extend his term arguing that the country could not
bear to have the veteran president in power for two more years.
Two weeks ago, the police fought running battles with MDC supporters in the
working class suburb of Highfield as they sought to block the opposition
party led by Morgan Tsvangirai from holding a rally to launch the party's
campaign for next year's presidential election.
The Zimbabwe government has banned protests and rallies following the
violent protests in Highfield. The MDC says the ban amounted to a
declaration of a state of emergency by the Harare authorities.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena refused to comment on the matter saying
he is not at liberty to discuss matters of strategy with the Press.
"I am sorry this is an issue of strategy that cannot be discussed with the
Press. In any case, transfers are a normal phenomenon in any organization.
So why should it raise eyebrows?" he said.
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi could not be reached for comment on the
matter.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Bulawayo members release without appearing in Court
The 174 members arrested in Bulawayo on Tuesday were
finally released at 5 pm without appearing in court.
Police ran out of delaying tactics when lawyers made
ready a High Court application. The members were
arrested on 13 February as they conducted a peaceful
Valentines Day protest. As members were arrest in one
protest another sprung up elsewhere - police officers
confirmed arresting people at five different locations
in the city where protests had sprung up.
Late yesterday, it had been understood that only seven
would be charged under the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) Act and that the rest would be released,
Police made an about turn and only released mothers
with babies and minors, leaving 141 in custody for a
second night.
Today as lawyers attended prepared to go to Court, the
investigating officers indicated they had had 'orders'
to charge everyone and take them to court. This meant
preparing warned and cautioned statements from
everyone. This process of course meant the 48-hour
deadline, up at midday, was exceeded by several hours.
Finally at 5 pm today, the group was finally released
at 5pm - five hours after their 48-hour deadline had
passed. The Prosecutor advised Law and Order officers
to proceed by way of summons. Another factor is that
once again no police officer is willing to write the
necessary affidavit to allow evidence necessary to
charge the activist.
However whilst we recognize that it is positive step
for them to refuse to be used to convict innocent
people, we appeal to police officers to help ' name
and shame' the senior police officer who shouted at
Riot police not to dialogue with the activists at the
scene but gave the order for the peaceful women and
men to be beaten. We also deplore the manner in which
those arrested were beaten as they ascended the
staircase into the law and order department of
Bulawayo Central. Those who had sustained injuries due
to beatings on arrest and in custody have been taken
to receive medical treatment.
It appears that the group has been charged under
Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) as read with Section 2(v) of the schedule to
the Criminal Code - 'employs any means whatsoever
which are likely materially to interfere with the
ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the
public or any section of the public, or does any act
which is likely to create a nuisance or obstruction'.
This morning, the Central Intelligence Organisation
(CIO) located Magodonga Mahlangu at Sauerstown Police
Station. Monitors were dispatched to ensure she was
not abducted and their presence ensured she was moved
with the rest of the group to Bulawayo Central. She
has been released and is also receiving medical
treatment for the beatings that she received upon
arrest.
The petty nastiness of the Zimbabwe Republic Police
was again evident today. Having informed those on
support yesterday that the breakfast feeding time had
been changed to 5am, volunteers were mobilised to
provide food at 5am but were kept waiting until 7am,
the normal feeding time. A woman at Queens Park was
consistently denied her ARV medication. Reports have
also come in that several members were forced to eat
the paper placards that they had been carrying during
the demonstration - some of these read, 'love can
bring a brighter day' and 'From WOZA with love'.
Despite the inability of some officers to choose love
over hate, WOZA would like to salute those officers
who did treat our members with respect and
professionalism and who recognized that WOZA is
fighting for a better future for ALL Zimbabweans.
finally released at 5 pm without appearing in court.
Police ran out of delaying tactics when lawyers made
ready a High Court application. The members were
arrested on 13 February as they conducted a peaceful
Valentines Day protest. As members were arrest in one
protest another sprung up elsewhere - police officers
confirmed arresting people at five different locations
in the city where protests had sprung up.
Late yesterday, it had been understood that only seven
would be charged under the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) Act and that the rest would be released,
Police made an about turn and only released mothers
with babies and minors, leaving 141 in custody for a
second night.
Today as lawyers attended prepared to go to Court, the
investigating officers indicated they had had 'orders'
to charge everyone and take them to court. This meant
preparing warned and cautioned statements from
everyone. This process of course meant the 48-hour
deadline, up at midday, was exceeded by several hours.
Finally at 5 pm today, the group was finally released
at 5pm - five hours after their 48-hour deadline had
passed. The Prosecutor advised Law and Order officers
to proceed by way of summons. Another factor is that
once again no police officer is willing to write the
necessary affidavit to allow evidence necessary to
charge the activist.
However whilst we recognize that it is positive step
for them to refuse to be used to convict innocent
people, we appeal to police officers to help ' name
and shame' the senior police officer who shouted at
Riot police not to dialogue with the activists at the
scene but gave the order for the peaceful women and
men to be beaten. We also deplore the manner in which
those arrested were beaten as they ascended the
staircase into the law and order department of
Bulawayo Central. Those who had sustained injuries due
to beatings on arrest and in custody have been taken
to receive medical treatment.
It appears that the group has been charged under
Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) as read with Section 2(v) of the schedule to
the Criminal Code - 'employs any means whatsoever
which are likely materially to interfere with the
ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the
public or any section of the public, or does any act
which is likely to create a nuisance or obstruction'.
This morning, the Central Intelligence Organisation
(CIO) located Magodonga Mahlangu at Sauerstown Police
Station. Monitors were dispatched to ensure she was
not abducted and their presence ensured she was moved
with the rest of the group to Bulawayo Central. She
has been released and is also receiving medical
treatment for the beatings that she received upon
arrest.
The petty nastiness of the Zimbabwe Republic Police
was again evident today. Having informed those on
support yesterday that the breakfast feeding time had
been changed to 5am, volunteers were mobilised to
provide food at 5am but were kept waiting until 7am,
the normal feeding time. A woman at Queens Park was
consistently denied her ARV medication. Reports have
also come in that several members were forced to eat
the paper placards that they had been carrying during
the demonstration - some of these read, 'love can
bring a brighter day' and 'From WOZA with love'.
Despite the inability of some officers to choose love
over hate, WOZA would like to salute those officers
who did treat our members with respect and
professionalism and who recognized that WOZA is
fighting for a better future for ALL Zimbabweans.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
EU to extend sanctions on Zimbabwe - diplomats
By Ingrid Melander
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is set to extend sanctions on
Zimbabwe for another year including an arms embargo, travel ban and asset
freeze on President Robert Mugabe and other top officials, EU diplomats said
on Friday.
The 27-member bloc, which accuses Harare of widespread human rights
violations, plans to go ahead with the move despite the risk that the travel
ban on Mugabe could again scupper longstanding plans for an EU-Africa
summit, they added.
The list of visa bans and freezing of assets includes more than a hundred
ministers and officials. The EU accuses them of human rights violations, and
violations of freedom of speech and assembly in Zimbabwe.
"They will be prolonged for another year," an EU diplomat said of existing
sanctions due to expire on February 20.
"Every year the European Commission does a report on the situation in
Zimbabwe, it has not changed so the conclusions are the same," said an
official at the EU executive.
The sanctions were initially triggered by the controversial distribution of
white-owned commercial farms to mainly landless blacks and Mugabe's disputed
re-election in 2002.
Critics say the seizures have destroyed Zimbabwe's economy, turning the
country from a regional agricultural leader to a nation barely able to feed
itself amid a deepening crisis marked by food and fuel shortages and
inflation above 1,200 percent.
Mugabe says the sanctions are responsible for Zimbabwe's economic crisis and
he says his land policy was necessary because former colonial power Britain
did not make good on promises at the time of Zimbabwe's independence in
1980.
Eldred Masunungure, chairman at University of Zimbabwe's Political Science
Department, said the EU sanctions have failed to reach their objective and
have if anything hit the population of Zimbabwe.
"I think the sanctions by their very nature are a blunt instrument and their
impact tends to spread beyond the target persons," Masunungure said.
"On the government's side they have been felt but as you can see Mugabe has
not changed his policies."
Plans for an EU-Africa Summit have been on hold since 2003 because Britain
and several other EU countries refused to attend if Mugabe was invited,
while African states refused to attend if he was not invited, diplomats
noted on Friday.
"The big issue of course is how to organise this summit," one said, adding
that the EU may try to convince Zimbabwe and other African countries that
Zimbabwe be represented at that summit by a senior official who is not on
the embargo list.
"We will need good political will and some imagination," another said,
noting that Britain and possibly other countries would oppose to a temporary
lift of the visa ban to allow Mugabe to come to an EU-Africa Summit.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is set to extend sanctions on
Zimbabwe for another year including an arms embargo, travel ban and asset
freeze on President Robert Mugabe and other top officials, EU diplomats said
on Friday.
The 27-member bloc, which accuses Harare of widespread human rights
violations, plans to go ahead with the move despite the risk that the travel
ban on Mugabe could again scupper longstanding plans for an EU-Africa
summit, they added.
The list of visa bans and freezing of assets includes more than a hundred
ministers and officials. The EU accuses them of human rights violations, and
violations of freedom of speech and assembly in Zimbabwe.
"They will be prolonged for another year," an EU diplomat said of existing
sanctions due to expire on February 20.
"Every year the European Commission does a report on the situation in
Zimbabwe, it has not changed so the conclusions are the same," said an
official at the EU executive.
The sanctions were initially triggered by the controversial distribution of
white-owned commercial farms to mainly landless blacks and Mugabe's disputed
re-election in 2002.
Critics say the seizures have destroyed Zimbabwe's economy, turning the
country from a regional agricultural leader to a nation barely able to feed
itself amid a deepening crisis marked by food and fuel shortages and
inflation above 1,200 percent.
Mugabe says the sanctions are responsible for Zimbabwe's economic crisis and
he says his land policy was necessary because former colonial power Britain
did not make good on promises at the time of Zimbabwe's independence in
1980.
Eldred Masunungure, chairman at University of Zimbabwe's Political Science
Department, said the EU sanctions have failed to reach their objective and
have if anything hit the population of Zimbabwe.
"I think the sanctions by their very nature are a blunt instrument and their
impact tends to spread beyond the target persons," Masunungure said.
"On the government's side they have been felt but as you can see Mugabe has
not changed his policies."
Plans for an EU-Africa Summit have been on hold since 2003 because Britain
and several other EU countries refused to attend if Mugabe was invited,
while African states refused to attend if he was not invited, diplomats
noted on Friday.
"The big issue of course is how to organise this summit," one said, adding
that the EU may try to convince Zimbabwe and other African countries that
Zimbabwe be represented at that summit by a senior official who is not on
the embargo list.
"We will need good political will and some imagination," another said,
noting that Britain and possibly other countries would oppose to a temporary
lift of the visa ban to allow Mugabe to come to an EU-Africa Summit.
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