Welcome to ZimRights News, a Monthly Human Rights Update brought to you by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association. We capture for you all the key human rights developments in Zimbabwe. To receive the audio version of this newsletter, subscribe here Here you will also find the podcast in English, Shona and Ndebele.

Prison Horror: Following the release of Godfrey Kurauone, Hopewell Chin’ono, Jacob Ngarivhume and Job Sikhala, the four have told horror stories of prison life. “It is meant for animals,” said Godfrey. “It is meant to break you,” said Jacob. They spoke about overcrowding, lack of ablution facilities, poor sanitation, and non-existent COVID-19 measures. This bring into focus the need for prison reform. ZimRights has donated sanitisers and masks to prisons in Harare, Gwanda, Mutare, Masvingo and Midlands in an effort to alleviate the situation. Without comprehensive reform, these remain just but a drop in the ocean. Listen to Godfrey Kurauone narrating his ordeal in prison.

Weaponisation of the Law: Despite the release on bail and acquittal of other political prisoners, the weaponisation of the law continued.

On 24 August, three activists were arrested for protesting at the courts over the arrest of Job Sikhala. These were Terrence Manjengwa, Blessed Changara and Barnabas Gura. They are still languishing in prison after bail denial.

ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore was arrested for the second time on 18 September for addressing a press statement 101 meters from Impala Car Rental demanding that Impala discloses information relating to the abduction of 22 year old Tawanda Muchehiwa. He is languishing in prison after bail has been denied.

On 24 September, Harare Magistrate Bianca Makwande ordered the detention of Harare West Member of Parliament Joanna Mamombe pending psychiatric examination. This Flag founder Evan Mawarire described this step as ‘pure evil’.

Militia Attack ZINASU Leaders and Journalists: On 18 September, unknown armed men attacked ZINASU leaders during a press conference held 101 metres from Impala Car Rental premises. Journalists were also attacked, and their cameras and recording equipment was destroyed in the process. Human rights groups roundly condemned this attack. See our statement here. Listen to the MISA Director, Tabani Moyo condemn the attack on journalists as evidence of ‘state-business collusion’.

Extra Extra-Judicial Killings: The state has been implicated in alleged extra-judicial killing of 2 Chivhu men, Ephain Jani (20) and Eliot Chihambakwe (45) on 6 September. The two were alleged to have opened fire on soldiers in Chivhu killing one Lance Corporal Lorance Mupanyanga and seriously injuring Corporal Peter Zvirevo. Human rights groups have called this a case of extra-judicial killing. The police paraded the dead bodies in the streets in scenes described as barbaric. ZimRights condemns all violence and believes suspected criminals should have been arrested and brought before the courts of law.

ZimRights and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) have condemned the persecution of dissenters. In a statement released on 11 September 2020, the two organisations said the targeted attacks on dissenting voices by the state that are clearly aimed at morally exhausting, silencing, punishing, impoverishing, and physically injuring the targeted individuals, and exposing them to the risk of contracting the virus while arbitrarily detained in prisons.

ZimRights LIVE brings together ZimRights’ media platforms incorporating its Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and this Podcast. In addition, ZimRights will launch its brand new YouTube Channel. These tools are part of ZimRights’ Digital Activism Strategy designed to provide a variety of tools for human rights activists to undertake positive acts to advance the human rights cause.

Speaking ahead of the launch, ZimRights National Director Dzikamai Bere said ZimRights’ Digital Activism Strategy was meant to bring human rights information and advocacy tools into the hands of as many people as possible at the touch of a button.

“In this digital age, many people, especially the young and the diaspora community, are eager to close the borders and build a formidable human rights community. ZimRights is ready to facilitate such a transformation.” Bere said.

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