Mnangagwa faces arrest – ZimEye

By POLITICO Reporter – A respected international human rights body says President Emmerson Mnangagwa has committed serious human rights violations and demonstrated a failure or unwillingness to undertake lasting human rights reforms.

Human Rights Watch said opposition members and civil society activists had borne the brunt of violence, intimidation, harassment, and repression that appeared aimed at restricting the country’s civic and political space.

The past year in particular has seen several activists abducted and tortured, as well as the weaponization of the criminal justice system by the ruling party against its political opponents.

Human Rights Watch said the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit must publicly condemn Mnangagwa’s escalating human rights violations.

Human Rights Watch urged SADC to use the opportunity of a Southern African Development Community summit, which Harare will host in August, to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe and to urge the Mnangagwa government to end its crackdown on dissent and uphold fundamental freedoms.

Opposition politicians are being detained for long periods of time or convicted on baseless, seemingly politically motivated charges. Alan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said:

Ahead of the August summit, President Mnangagwa’s government is accelerating its crackdown on legal and peaceful activities.

SADC needs to work with the authorities to take clear measures to ensure that all Zimbabweans enjoy fundamental freedoms.

SADC should call on the Zimbabwean government to stop its repression, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions of activists and opposition supporters in order to promote respect for human rights.

The prevailing climate of intimidation and repression must end.

The heads of state of the 16 Southern African Development Community member states are scheduled to hold the 44th regional summit in Harare on August 17, 2024.

At the meeting, Mnangagwa is set to take on the chairmanship of the sub-regional organization.

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