For many years, Zimbabwe has failed to take any significant action to protect human rights or provide justice for rights abuses.
Development Diaries reports that the human rights issues in Zimbabwe persist, even though the country has ratified many United Nations Human Rights Conventions and thus has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down.
Five years after his election, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has failed to break from
the past and continued to crack down on human rights.
It is understood that, as required by Zimbabwe’s constitution, the government has yet to pass the Independent Complaints Commission Bill to establish an independent complaint mechanism to receive and investigate public complaints against the security services.
Authorities often arbitrarily arrested, harassed, and prosecuted critics of the ruling party through lengthy detentions and trials.
The rights of Zimbabweans, particularly those of human rights advocates and civil society organisations (CSOs), have been further compromised under the Cyber and Data Protection Act of 2021.
There have been concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression, with reports of journalists, activists, and opposition members facing harassment or arrest.
An instance is when opposition politician Job Sikhala was convicted of obstructing the course of justice in May 2023 and given a wholly suspended six-month sentence with the option of paying U.S.$600 or spending six months in jail.
In a similar vein, Jacob Ngarivhume was found guilty of inciting violence and given a 48-month prison term with a 12-month suspension for the simple act of exercising his right to free speech.
According to Amnesty International, at least 15 journalists were beaten, detained, or arrested by security personnel in 2021 alone while doing their jobs.
Zimbabwe has experienced periods of political instability, and there have been allegations of political repression, including the suppression of opposition parties and their supporters.
The Zimbabwe constitution’s Bill of Rights guarantees several fundamental rights, including the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and political participation.
However, rights are not always upheld and safeguarded because of restrictive laws.
Development Diaries calls on the Zimbabwean government to commit to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all citizens are treated equally and fairly.
The government must also foster an environment that encourages freedom of expression, assembly, and association, allowing human rights defenders to operate without fear of reprisals.
Photo source: HRW
