ZIMBABWE PEACE PROJECT MONTHLY MONITORING REPORT
AUGUST 2021
6.0
Enforced Disappearances
still haunt Zimbabwe
As part of the commemorations of the International Day of the
Victims of Enforced Disappearances, ZPP conducted a webinar.
In the webinar, which had the high level representation at the United
Nations level in the form of Aua Balde, who is a member of the
United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary
Disappearances. The following key issues came out:
• The families and friends of the victims, experience slow mental
anguish, not knowing whether the victim is still alive and, if so,
where he or she is being held, under what conditions, and in what
state of health.
• It is important to underscore that for the purposes of redress, the
UN Working Group does not differentiate between the direct
victim and the indirect victims, that is their families. Those
disappeared & those that suffer as a result of the disappearance
are entitled to reparations
• It is essential that all States pay specific attention to the
multidimensional impact of enforced disappearances on the
economic, social and cultural rights of the victims throughout the
search process and the investigation.
• States are urged to address the fact that enforced disappearances
put family and relatives in a very challenging position, especially
when the breadwinner is disappeared. As the family structure is
disrupted, spouses and children are impacted economically,
socially and psychologically
• All States, Zimbabwe included, are called on to to ratify the
Convention and accept the competence of the Committee on
Enforced Disappearances to receive and examine individual and
inter-State complaints
• According to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary
Disappearances last annual report, there were over 58k cases of
Enforced Disappearances and of these, seven are from Zimbabwe.
Five of the seven happened in the last report, meaning they were
mainly in 2019 and 2020
• State authorities/state agents derive political benefits from the
use of Enforced Disappearances. There is an instrument of
control, striking fear in the people, sending message of terror.
• Its not surprising that State authorities like Zimbabwe are
reluctant to submit themselves to mechanisms that would
decisively deal with enforced disappearances and ensure
reparations and support to victims and their families.
Click here to watch the entire webinar