The Zimbabwean government’s choice to use soldiers to keep law and order before the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit has caused a lot of concern. The plan is meant to make sure there is a quick response to any possible trouble. However, critics worry that using soldiers instead of the police could lead to violence, human rights abuses, and no one taking responsibility. This decision might make things very dangerous.
This is happening at the same time as the government is cracking down on anyone who speaks out against it. Since mid-June, the authorities have arrested over 160 people, including members of the opposition, union leaders, students, and journalists. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are very worried about these arrests. They have asked the government to release all the people who were arrested just for exercising their rights.
The crackdown has been harsh. There are reports of security forces using tear gas, beating people so badly they needed to go to the hospital, making people disappear, and torturing those in custody. This has created a dangerous situation for human rights in Zimbabwe. It also raises questions about how serious the SADC is about human rights, especially as Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to take over the leadership of SADC.
The arrests started on June 16 when police raided the home of Jameson Timba, the leader of the opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The police arrested 78 people during a private meeting. They used tear gas and batons, hurting many people. Some of the injuries were so bad that people needed surgery. The group was charged with trying to cause violence and disorder. Although the law says that they should be brought to court within 48 hours, the authorities kept them locked up for more than two days without a court hearing. Even though two children were let go, 75 adults are still in jail.
The arrests didn’t stop there. On June 24, 44 members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), including their president, Emmanuel Sitima, were arrested. They had to pay fines for “disorderly conduct” to be released. Sitima was then arrested again for “criminal nuisance” but was freed the next day on bail. On June 27, President Mnangagwa warned against opposition parties and public disorder. Just a few hours later, the police arrested peaceful protesters outside Harare Magistrate’s Court.
Things got even worse on June 29 when five members of the National Democratic Working Group were arrested during a private meeting at a home. They were raising money to help poor families. Although they were released, the arrests continued. On July 1, police broke up a memorial service for a CCC member and arrested six people from the Community Voices Zimbabwe media group in Gokwe.
On July 31, state agents took four activists off a plane at Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport and held them in secret for almost eight hours. Lawyers said there was proof of torture, with one activist so badly hurt that they needed medical help. The four activists were charged with “disorderly conduct” for being part of a protest on June 27.
In early August, more than 30 people were arrested in different parts of Zimbabwe. Among them was Emmanuel Sitima, who was arrested for the third time, a parliament member, and several other opposition members and activists. On August 8, masked people tried to break into the offices of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition in Harare.
These human rights abuses, including violent attacks, kidnappings, torture, and arrests of people who criticize the government, show that President Mnangagwa’s government is not respecting basic human rights. Despite all this, the SADC group has stayed silent about these human rights violations.
The current situation in Zimbabwe has made people question how serious the SADC is about human rights. As President Mnangagwa gets ready to take over as head of SADC, it is more important than ever for the group to take a stand against the crackdown in Zimbabwe. The upcoming SADC summit in Harare offers a chance to deal with these problems and improve respect for human rights in the region. The world is watching, hoping to see a strong commitment to human rights and accountability soon.