May 2019
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
ABOUT ZPP
Chasing Shadows
The Government of Zimbabwe has reverted to its
systematic and coordinated Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs) and human rights activists attack modus
operandi; a path they always take when under pressure.
This was most evident when seven human rights
defenders (HRDs) were arrested on various occasions
at Robert Mugabe International Airport in the month of
May.
George Makoni, 38, an Advocacy Officer for Centre
for Community Development in Zimbabwe; Tatenda
The organisation was founded in 2000 by church-based and
human rights organisations. The current members of ZPP are
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of
Churches (ZCC), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in
Zimbabwe (CCJPZ), Counselling Services Unit (CSU), Zimbabwe
Human Rights Association (ZimRights), Civic Education Network
Trust (CIVNET), and Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ).
ZPP was established with the objective of monitoring,
documenting and building peace and promoting the peaceful
resolution of disputes and conflicts. The Zimbabwe Peace Project
seeks to foster dialogue and political tolerance through nonpartisan peace monitoring activities, mainly through monitors who
document the violations of rights in the provinces.
The monitors, who at full complement stand at 420, constitute the
core pool of volunteers, supported by four Regional Coordinators.
The Regional Coordinators relate with the national office headed
by the National Director and programme officers in various units.
Mombeyarara, 37, Co-ordinator for lobby group
Citizens
Manifesto;
Gamuchirai
Mukura,
31,
Executive Director of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD);
Nyasha Mpahlo, 35, Farirai Gumbonzvanda a girls’ rights activist and community volunteer
with the Rozaria Memorial Trust, Sitabile Dewah of Women’s Academy for Leadership and
Political Excellence and Director of the Female Prisoners Support Trust Dr Rita Nyamupinga
were picked up at the airport between May 20 to 27 on returning from a workshop in the
Maldives. The workshop was hosted by the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and
Strategies.
Government recently on different occasions accused CSOs of regime change endeavours
through coordinated demonstrations throughout the country despite Section 59 of the
Zimbabwean Constitution clearly providing for the right to demonstrate and petition. It is now
apparent that these intimations were orchestrated to herald and justify the persecution of CSOs.
The activists’ arrest is a clear sign of criminalisation of human rights activism, which flies in
the face of democratic society ideals. Government’s targeting of activists who attended a
workshop whose scope is ‘non-violence’, is nothing short of chasing mirages and stifling
clearly provided for rights. The continued deferment of bail ruling judgement and detention at
Chikurubi Female and Maximum security prisons deprives the activists of their freedom and is
a form of continued violation and victimisation. We implore the justice system to speedily
follow due process so that these Human Rights Defenders are treated fairly.
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