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(Johannesburg) – Zimbabwe The authorities should take immediate steps to end the prolonged pretrial detention of more than 70 opposition activists, most of whom are young people, who have been held since June 16, 2024.
On the same day, police raided the home of an opposition leader in a suburb of the capital Harare and arrested people who were marking the Day of the African Child. Those arrested face charges of participating in the rally. Incitement to public violencebreach of peace or prejudice and disorderly conduct. On June 27, the District Court Denial of bail The reason is that the detainees are likely to commit similar crimes once released. Maintain the original verdict On 17 July, the detainees were kept in prolonged pretrial detention at Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Harare.
“Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system has repeatedly violated the rights of opposition figures,” Idris Ali NassarSenior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Pretrial detention should not last longer than necessary, and no one should be detained arbitrarily and unjustly for a long time.”
Lawyers for the detainees told Human Rights Watch that the activists have been beaten and tortured since their arrests and have been denied humane treatment, bail, medical care, and other basic rights.
Agus Gambo, one of the detainees’ lawyers, said that “the law is applied selectively and only those arrested in a political context are entitled to bail. The role of partisan interests in prosecuting opponents is evident in this case.”
Gombo said some of the detainees were seriously injured from beatings by police and doctors recommended sending the injured to hospital, but the court refused to release them. They were not receiving adequate medical care and the detainees also lacked proper food, sanitation facilities and clothing, he said.
Maureen Dinha is one of the detainees. 1 year old With her in prison. Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Posted in XOn July 23, Twitter announced that it was “committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone, including children.” Others detained include Nicole ChattaA teenager who will be taking his final exams in October, and Kill the robberhis legs shattered During the arrest on June 16, Makororo’s child died while she was in custody, but authorities reject She agreed to attend the funeral or bury her son.
Since coming to power in a military coup in 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government initially presented itself as a ‘New system’ Respect for fundamental rights, arresting and prosecuting several peaceful activists on baseless charges. Zimbabwe Security Forces Increasingly committed to Serious human rights violations, including violent attacks, kidnappings, torture, arbitrary arrests and other ill-treatment, have targeted opposition figures, government critics and activists. The arrest and prolonged pre-trial detention of these activists is only the latest example.
this International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Zimbabwe is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that individuals in pre-trial detention may be released on bail: “A person awaiting trial shall not, as a general rule, be detained in custody but released with guarantees to appear for trial.”
International human rights law requires that any pre-trial restrictions on criminal suspects should be consistent with the rights to liberty, the presumption of innocence and equality before the law. United Nations Human Rights CommissionThe International Human Rights Organization, an international body that conducts authoritative analysis of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said that punishments such as pretrial detention of criminal suspects are inconsistent with those rights.
Many of these rights are also protected in Zimbabwe constitutionincluding Section 50(1)(d), which provides that any person arrested “must be released pending prosecution or trial, either unconditionally or under reasonable conditions, unless there are compelling reasons justifying his or her continued detention”. The Constitution further provides for the pre-trial rights of detainees and guarantees them freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
“The prolonged pretrial detention of political activists is just the latest example of President Mnangagwa’s government’s failure to promote, protect, and respect fundamental human rights,” Nassa said. “Concerned governments should urge President Mnangagwa’s government to uphold the rule of law.”
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