Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sworn in for a second term as President of Zimbabwe amid reports of multiple human rights abuses during the August 2023 presidential election.

Development Diaries reports that several election observers recorded multiple human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, abductions and torture of opposition party activists during and after the disputed polls.

Amnesty International had reported assaults allegedly committed against members of the opposition party have significantly marred Mnangagwa’s inauguration for his second term as president.

According to the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), ‘acts of violence and intimidation’ that contributed to a ‘climate of fear’ were seen during the elections, and ‘fundamental freedoms were increasingly curtailed’ during the voting process.

Along with a growing crackdown on human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, there have also been threats made against people attempting to organise peaceful protests.

Citizens should be allowed to exercise their civil liberties as expected in a democracy-practicing country and everyone should be able to take part in nonviolent protests.

Development Diaries calls on the Zimbabwean authorities to ensure a calm post-election atmosphere by respecting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and speech.

Also, the country must recognise the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), which it ratified in 1991 and launch independent and open investigations into any active kidnapping, enforced disappearance, or torture cases.

Photo source: GovernmentZA