BackgroundArbitrary arrests, detentions, beatings, torture and ill treatment of opposition members and supporters and civil society activists by state authorities have all been key features of Zimbabwe’s seven-year political crisis.1 Unrest has rocked the country since 2000, when the government lost a referendum on changes to the constitution, and then embarked on a violent and controversial land reform program.2 The run-up to and aftermath of subsequent parliamentary and presidential elections in 2000 and 2002 were marred by widespread politically motivated violence perpetrated by the police, intelligence agents, members and supporters of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF), and “youth militia,”3 against members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), civil society activists and anyone perceived to be a supporter of the MDC.4 Elections in 2005 were less violent than the previous elections but nevertheless marred by numerous abuses including arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters and civil society activists and violations of electoral laws.5 Few perpetrators of abuses have been brought to account.6 In May 2005, the government of Zimbabwe forcibly evicted hundreds of thousands of people from the high-density urban areas7 of the country’s cities in a campaign known as “Operation Murambatsvina.”8 The operation entailed large-scale human rights violations with authorities arbitrarily forcing hundreds of thousands of people to destroy or cede their property without due notice, process or compensation, and precipitated a massive humanitarian crisis. Some critics accused the government of carrying out the campaign to prevent mass uprisings in the high-density areas against the deteriorating political and economic conditions. In November 2005, the MDC—which was formed in 1999 with Morgan Tsvangirai as its leader—split into two factions after disagreements over whether the MDC should run for senate elections. The Bulawayo-based faction of the MDC is led by Arthur Mutambara, while the Harare-based faction is led by Morgan Tsvangirai.9 However, in recent months the two factions of the MDC have reportedly worked closely together and pledged to form a united front in challenging the government’s policies. In the past year, Zimbabwean security forces in violation of international human rights law10 have rounded up hundreds of opposition members and supporters and civil society activists peacefully protesting the political and economic crisis in the country. The police routinely use unnecessary force to disrupt peaceful protests and subject activists to severe beatings and other mistreatment in police custody.11
1 Human Rights Watch, Under a Shadow: Civil and Political Rights in Zimbabwe, June 6, 2003, http://hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/zimbabwe060603.htm. 2 Amnesty International, “Terror tactics in the run up to elections,” June 2000, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR460142000?OPEN&of=ENG-ZWE (accessed April 4, 2007); Human Rights Watch, “Fast Track Land Reform in Zimbabwe,” March 2002, Vol.14, No.1 (A), New York. 3 The “youth militia” also known in Zimbabwe as 'green bombers' because they often wear green military fatigues are part of a government-run National Youth Service Program. According to the government, the program is aimed at training youths to be good citizens and to take part in community services initiatives. However, the “youth militia” have been widely implicated in acts of intimidation and violence against opposition members and supporters, civil society activists and anyone perceived to be a supporter of the opposition. 4 Amnesty International, “Terror tactics in the run up to elections”; Amnesty International, “The Toll of Impunity,” June 25, 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR460342002?OPEN&OF=ENG-ZWE; (accessed, April 3, 2007). 5 Human Rights Watch, “Not a Level Playing Field: Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary Elections in 2005,” March 2005, http://hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/zimbabwe0305.pdf. 6 For more information on the growing levels of impunity see Amnesty International, “The Toll of Impunity,” and Human Rights Watch ,”You Will Be Thoroughly Beaten: The Brutal Suppression of Dissent in Zimbabwe,” November 1, 2006, http://hrw.org/reports/2006/zimbabwe1106/zimbabwe1106web.pdf 7 High-density areas are areas that have a high concentration of housing compared to the amount of residential land available and are densely populated. 8 Human Rights Watch, “Evicted and Forsaken: Internally Displaced Persons in the Aftermath of Operation Murambatsvina,” December 2005, Vol.17, No.16 (A), New York 9 “MDC expels 26,” The Insider, November 12, 2005, http://www.insiderzim.com/nov05breakingnews.html (accessed April 24, 2007). 10 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), adopted December 16, 1966, G.A.res. 2200A (XX1), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No.16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S.171, entered into force March 23, 1976, acceded to by Zimbabwe, May 13, 1991, article 21; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), adopted June 27, 1981, OAU doc. CAB/LEG/67/3rev.5.21.I.LM.58 (1982), entered into force October 21, 1986, ratified by Zimbabwe in 1986, article 11. 11 Human Rights Watch, “You Will Be Thoroughly Beaten’: The Brutal Suppression of Dissent in Zimbabwe.” |