OCTOBER 2022
6
Special Focus
Human Dignity and Freedom from Torture or Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment
ZPP recorded 13 cases on violating human dignity and freedom from torture
or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment in Kuwadzana,
Mberengwa North, Chimanimani East and Bikita East.
These cases include the denial of bail for the fifth time of CCC MPs Job
Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole on 6 October, a move reinforcing the notion that
the judiciary and the law have been weaponised. The two, together with 14
others, have spent more than 120 days in custody after their arrest at the
funeral wake of murdered CCC activist Moreblessing Ali. On 8 October, a
Zimbabwean Journalist Godwin Mangudya was assaulted by members of the
Central Intelligence Organisation and Zanu PF activists in Kuwadzana, Harare,
while covering the party's central committee elections. On 27 October, Zanu
PF youths assaulted Victor Baipai in ward 15 of Chimanimani East.
Article 2 of the Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Being
Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment of 1975 states that any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment is an offence to human dignity. It
violates the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project
Monthly Monitoring Report
11