FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Criminalising Human Rights in Zimbabwe

Release Date: 18 April 2007

By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary-General

Dear e-CIVICUS Subscriber,

Leaving on Friday 13^th and travelling to a city whose name translates literally as “the place where people are killed” is never a promising start to a journey and so it was with some superstitious trepidation that I stepped on the plane to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, last week. I am pleased to say though, that while Bulawayo ’s name may be ominous and reflect a violent history, my time there over the weekend was peaceful, but above all, also stimulating and inspiring.

I travelled to Zimbabwe with Clare Doube, the Manager of Civil Society Watch’s programme, which has been leading CIVICUS’ work in supporting civil society in Zimbabwe facing myriad threats, just as it is also working for the rights of civil society in many other countries around the globe. Tragically, the events in Zimbabwe over the last month show that such threats are worsening. Therefore, when we received word that civil society would welcome a visit from CIVICUS in these trying times, I was pleased to make space in my schedule.

The purpose of our visit was to deepen our understanding of th e c hallenges faced by th e c ountry’s embattled, yet courageous civil society; to offer solidarity and support; and to seek guidance on how we and other organisations in the region can best support our brothers and sisters in their time of need.

During the visit, we met with many civil society groups in Bulawayo and Harare, attended a prayer meeting and visited Rotten Row Magistrates Court. However, it was the short, random conversations on the streets that really gave us a flavour of everyday life in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. While chatting one night to a young man working at the reception desk of our hotel, for instance, I asked how things were in his city and was moved by his reply. First he asked me if I wanted the real answer or the sanitised version and when I requested the reality he said: “I love my country and I love my city, but I am leaving next month. I don’t want to leave but no on e c an survive here. I have a job in London and I must go as I simply would not survive if I stayed here.” A situation where talented, enthusiastic people who are committed to their country are forced to emigrate for their very survival is a tragedy not just for the individuals and their families, but for the entire nation.

In our travels, Clare and I were struck by the magnitude of the crisis in Zimbabwe, which is manifest in a variety of ways: the disintegration of the health and education systems, the “disappearances” of citizens which some observers estimate has reached 600, the meltdown of the economy where the street value for hard currency is 80 times the official exchange rate, the fragmentation of families, and the lives lived in fear and trepidation.

There is also a crisis for civil society, where groups and individuals face virtually insurmountabl e c hallenges. On the day we left Zimbabwe, one more such barrier appeared to be added to the list with the Minister for Information reportedly announcing that the registration of all NGOs had been annulled. Fortunately, lawyers in Zimbabwe have informed us that there is no legal basis for the statement as a legal instrument would need to b e c reated and that this hasn’t occurred, however the underlying sentiments behind such a statement remain deeply disturbing.

Talking to activists, I was repeatedly struck by the similarities to life in apartheid South Africa – the jolt of adrenalin when a car stops outside your house at night, the fear that at any moment th e c ar trailing you may pull you into detention, the stories of torture and brutality meted out by the authorities, and the pain of saying goodbye to your children in the morning, and not knowing if you will be returning to kiss them goodnight.

While differences obviously exist between the two struggles, the daily reality is similar, as are the underlying demands – the demands for fair and equal treatment, for the full enjoyment of our human rights and for treatment with respect and dignity. These are not fanciful requests but ar e c ontained within regional and international treaties that the Zimbabwean government has agreed to implement. These words remain on paper but are far from the living reality of Zimbabwe. This must change.  

A prayer meeting that we attended in Bulawayo on Saturday was a case in point. When we arrived on Friday, the meeting had been banned on the grounds of involvement of political leaders and w e c ould feel the tension in the air and see the obvious display of police firepower. While it is positive that negotiations with the police paid off and the event was allowed to go ahead without disruption, it is disturbing to note the tactics to intimidate people from attending, including roadblocks and displays of water cannons and heavily-armed riot police. It is even more worrying to read of a leaked memo from Zimbabwe’s Police Commissioner, Augustine Chihuri, that stated that the police should identify the “ringleaders” of the prayer meeting and would be ordered “not to hesitate to shoot to kill. The organisation will take full responsibility and protect its officers in cases of criminal and civil court cases”. Fortunately, this was not implemented but the very fact that it was expressed is deeply distressing, as is the fact that permission could be required at all – and the right to assembly must include not just prayer meetings, but also any peaceful meetings, including of political groupings.  

In speaking at the prayer meeting, I joined another international message of solidarity, from a Malawian priest. He told a story of a grasshopper being moved by th e c ombined efforts of many small ants, and the message of the need for collaborative efforts was well received. I emphasised how th e c risis in Zimbabwe is in fact a crisis for the region and the need for collaborative efforts on the part of the people and governments of the region. Bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), which I should emphasise, are run on our taxes, have a particular responsibility to act with integrity and strength. If they are unable to respond to such a situation, it will only make us all question the viability of the institution as a whole. Let us hope that the gravity of the situation on the ground will lead these institutions to immediate action.  

For our part, we will be reflecting on what we’ve learnt over the past few days and consulting with our civil society colleagues in the region to determine our next steps. We do hope, however, to hold a Zimbabwean solidarity meeting, possibly in the wings of this year’s African Union summit in Accra, to decide upon practical activities that will help alleviate the humanitarian and other challenges faced in th e c ountry. I would also like to highlight at this point that it is not just Zimbabweans in th e c ountry facing such difficulties, but also the millions forced to flee, many of whom endure horrendous treatment in detention centres, and countless acts of abuse and violence.    

Warmest regards,  

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