Zimbabwe’s human rights record unparalleled

AS the country prepares for its 37th Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day commemorations, it is an undisputed verity that the Government has an unparalleled record of upholding citizen’s rights.

THIS is evidenced by the democratic laws that have been enacted since independence and the total repealing of tyrannical laws that were enacted by the colonialists to safeguard their parochial interests.

However, there are always some regime change agents who include the western communities, who always want to soil that record. They have been criticising and unjustifiably accusing Zimbabwe of violating human rights. Yet at the back of their mind, they really know that Zimbabwe is a paragon of human rights observers.

One of the regime changers, the United Kingdom, recently compiled a report on human rights situation in the country.

The report titled, Human Rights and Democracy, alleges that the human rights situation in Zimbabwe is fast deteriorating.

Human rights as we know them are rights which are natural to the human being.

The idea of human rights acknowledges that every single human being is entitled to enjoy his or her individual rights without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion, political, property, birth or any other status.

The report nonsensically mentions that there is violation of property rights in the country, which among others include demolition of houses. Contrary to that statement, Zimbabwe is a country which is governed by rules and regulations, hence, citizens ought to abide by them.

Of late, a number of citizens have been constructing housing structures on undesignated land, and this is against the law.

Demolitions were mostly done on sprouting illegal suburbs in the country, on which some of the houses would be built on wetlands.

These illegal structures are, in most cases, havens for criminals and epidemic diseases have their roots in those illegal structures.

If citizens are left to break the law, the West will be at the forefront attacking Government that there is no rule of law. What a hypocrite lot! It is, therefore, in the best interest of Zimbabweans to keep the laws of the country and religiously adhere to them.

These charlatans would not allow illegal structures to sprout in their own towns and cities.

The report also claims that there is a number of politically motivated violence in the country.

Indeed, I cannot agree more with the report here as cases of violence among opposition political party members have been reported across the nation.

For instance, it was reported this year that a High Court Additional Sheriff, Mr Respect Chimombe was beaten by MDC-T youths in a bid to block him from serving Mr Morgan Tsvangirai with summons where he was being sued by Mr Moreprecision Muzadzi who is claiming $80 000 for facilitating a coalition ahead of the 2013 elections.

It is such acts of violence that force police officers to be on the ground monitoring and maintaining order in the central business district especially during protests.

On the other hand, the UK report criticised the police for using teargas and water cannons in dispersing such violent protests. It is the role of the police to protect the public whenever acts of violence erupt.

Thus, any Government that protects human rights is accountable to its citizen’s security.

Police should, therefore, arrest all violent perpetrators under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) of 2002.

All political parties should be encouraged to educate their party members on the effects of political violence.

While addressing over 40 000 supporters in Lupane recently, President Mugabe strongly denounced violence despite who the perpetrators are. The nation awaits other political leaders to follow suit.

The report accused Government, wrongly so, of denying opposition permission to hold rallies at the same time granting the same to the ruling party. Surely, this report is grossly misleading the public. Opposition parties are free to hold rallies anywhere as long as they are cleared by the police.

Recently, MDC-T deputy president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa together with other MDC-T officials held a rally in Kuwadzana 2, Harare.

The MDC- T leader, mr Morgan Tsvangirai recently met with his party structures at Donald Hall, Mzilikazi in Bulawayo.

Additionally, the National People’s Party leader, Dr Joice Mujuru, has been moving around the nation meeting with her party supporters. All these meetings and rallies strongly confirm that democracy exists in Zimbabwe.

There are a number of political parties in the country and people belong to political parties they prefer.

Human rights are respected and that is the reason why there has been peace and tranquility since the country attained its independence in 1980.