The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) has called for the immediate release of Moreblessing Ali, a frontline human rights defender in Zimbabwe.

It is understood that Ali, who was last seen in Chitungwiza, a town situated on the outskirts of Harare, was abducted on 24 May, 2022.

According to SAHRDN, also known as Southern Defenders, Ali was beaten up and forcefully bundled into a car by a group of men who are allegedly associated with the ruling party – the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

However, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), in a press statement, dismissed the abduction of Ali as politically motivated.

‘This occurs amid a broader and dangerous crackdown on civic space and the silencing of dissenting voices throughout the country’, SAHRDN said in a statement.

‘Southern Defenders is further concerned by the lack of impartiality demonstrated by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in its investigation of the matter.

‘This demonstrates a worrisome pattern of the targeting of pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders in Zimbabwe.

‘To this end, we join the calls of human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe and beyond to demand for the immediate and safe return of Moreblessing Ali.

‘We also urge the authorities in Zimbabwe to step up its efforts towards protecting all her citizens, including women human rights defenders, and ensure they work under safe conditions as required by regional and international law’.

A 2021 report by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) revealed that women human rights defenders were at a heightened risk of sexual or gender-based violence as a result of the nature of their work in defence of human rights in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean authorities have over the past year forced non-governmental organisation (NGOs) to register with provincial development coordinators (PDCs) and at a point announced the suspension of operations for numerous NGOs in the country.

Photo source: Moreblessing Ali