ZIMBABWE’S CRACKDOWN BEFORE SADC SUMMIT RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS FEARS

The Zimbabwean government’s decision to send soldiers into the streets to keep law and order before the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit has caused a lot of concerns. The plan was to stop possible protests and keep things calm. But people are worried that this could lead to soldiers and police doing each other’s jobs. When the military steps in, it can sometimes lead to violence and human rights abuses. This is why the move is seen as dangerous.

Since the middle of June, Zimbabwe has seen a lot of arrests. Over 160 people have been arrested, including members of the opposition, union leaders, students, and journalists. Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are worried. They have asked the Zimbabwean government to free all those who have been arrested for expressing their rights.

The crackdown has been harsh. There are reports of security forces using tear gas and beating people, sometimes so badly that they end up in the hospital. Some people have gone missing, and others say they were tortured while being detained. This has raised big questions about Zimbabwe’s respect for human rights, especially with President Emmerson Mnangagwa soon to lead SADC.

The first major arrest was on June 16 when the police raided the home of Jameson Timba, the leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party. He was holding a private meeting at his house, but the police stormed in. Seventy-eight people were arrested. The police used tear gas and batons to break up the gathering, and many people were hurt. Some were injured so badly that they needed surgery. Those arrested were charged with “gathering with intent to promote public violence and disorderly conduct.” Zimbabwean law says people must be brought to court within 48 hours, but many of those arrested were held for more than two days. Only two children were released, while 75 adults are still in detention.

Then, on June 24, the government arrested 44 students from the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), including their president, Emmanuel Sitima. The students were fined and released. But Sitima was arrested again the next day and only released on bail. On June 27, President Mnangagwa warned the opposition about protests. Soon after, the police arrested peaceful protesters outside a court in Harare.

The situation became worse on June 29 when five people from the National Democratic Working Group were arrested at a private home while trying to raise money for poor families. Though they were released, more arrests followed. On July 1, the police broke up a memorial service for a CCC member, arresting six people from Community Voices Zimbabwe media in Gokwe.

On July 31, four activists were pulled off a plane at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport by state agents. They were kept in secret for almost eight hours and were badly treated. One of them needed urgent medical help because of bruises. These activists were charged with disorderly conduct for being part of a protest in June.

In August, over 30 more people were arrested. Among them was Emmanuel Sitima, who was arrested for the third time. A parliamentarian and several other opposition members were also detained. On August 8, masked individuals tried to break into the offices of a group called Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition in Harare.

These events show that there is widespread violence, abductions, and torture against people who disagree with the government. President Mnangagwa’s government has failed to protect basic human rights. Still, SADC has said nothing about these violations.

As President Mnangagwa gets ready to lead SADC, the international community is watching closely. There is a strong need for SADC to address the human rights problems in Zimbabwe. The upcoming summit is a chance to stand for human rights and make sure that the rights of people are protected. The world is hoping for a change, but only time will tell if Zimbabwe will do what is right.