BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Amnesty International (AI) has bemoaned Zimbabwe’s continuous violation and undermining of the constitution, especially on human rights, amid calls for the ruling party ZANU-PF to shun targeting opposition politicians.
Zimbabwe on Tuesday marked forty-three years of independence from colonial rule, but the organisation in a statement released this Tuesday by the deputy director for East and Southern Africa Flavia Mwangovya said the reality is that the civic space is shrinking rapidly.
“Forty-three years after independence, authorities are still yet to guarantee in practice the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly which are increasingly being threatened despite being guaranteed under the constitution and international law, ” Mwangovya said.
” The right to freedom of peaceful assembly has continuously been violated and undermined with the authorities refusing to give clearance for some of the main opposition party’s rallies, arresting and convicting peaceful protesters and using unnecessary and excessive force to stop protests.”
As Zimbabwe approaches elections later this year, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly have come under increasing attack, the organisation further noted.
” Dissenting voices are being criminalized, with some opposition activists put in lengthy pre-trial detentions,”
“Authorities must stop criminalizing dissent and ensure the leveling of the playing field as the country fast approaches the elections.
” The opposition must be free to carry out their campaigns and individuals and groups must be protected from politically motivated violence.”
Mwngovya concluded by saying that authorities must promote, protect and uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as guarantee the socio-economic rights of every Zimbabwean.