UN experts raise red flag on Zim
UNITED Nations experts on human rights yesterday raised “grave concern” over increased cases of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and said there was an urgent need to visit the country to assess the situation on the ground.
The call came after the alleged abduction and torture of three MDC Alliance activists who included Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe.
The three went missing last month after being allegedly stopped at a police checkpoint in Harare, only to be found in Bindura after being allegedly tortured and sexually assaulted.
They now face charges of participating in an illegal demonstration and violating COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
“The charges against the three women should be dropped,” the UN experts said.
“Targeting peaceful dissidents, including youth leaders, in direct retaliation for the exercise of their freedom of association, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression is a serious violation of human rights law.”
The UN rights experts added: “The charges against the three women should be dropped. Targeting peaceful dissidents, including youth leaders, in direct retaliation for the exercise of their freedom of association, peaceful assembly and
freedom of expression is a serious violation of human rights law.”
The experts consist of Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment; the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Luciano Hazan (chair-rapporteur), TaeUng Baik (vice-chair), Bernard Duhaime, Houria Es-Slami and Henrikas Mickevicius.
Some of the experts are David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression; Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Dubravka Šimonovic, Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences.
Zimbabwe has been under the international spotlight over cases of abduction and torture of human rights activists with the UN human rights experts calling on authorities to “immediately end a reported pattern of disappearances and torture that appear aimed at suppressing protests and dissent.”
The UN said Zimbabwe should “urgently prosecute and punish the perpetrators of this outrageous crime, and to immediately enforce a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ for abductions and torture throughout the country” to ensure the effective protection of women against sexual violence, and to bring those responsible to account.
“The experts expressed grave alarm over concerns this was not an isolated instance. In 2019 alone, 49 cases of abductions and torture were reported in Zimbabwe, without investigations leading to perpetrators not being held to account.
“Enforced disappearances of women often involve sexual violence, and even forced impregnation, with enormous harm inflicted not only on their physical health and integrity, but also in terms of the resulting psychological damage, social stigma and disruption of family structures,” the UN said.
The experts added: “Under the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, which includes enforced disappearance and violence against women, Zimbabwe must take all measures in its power to prevent such abuse, to investigate suspected violations, and to bring any perpetrators to justice.”