THEMATIC OVERVIEW
Theme: The rise of protest movements in Zimbabwe
In the month of June Zimbabwe witnessed an escalation in protests mostly driven by non
political party actors. Some of the protesting groups included the Occupy Africa Unity
Square movement which is a group of citizen activists founded by the disappeared Itai
Dzamara in 2014. Another prominent movement was the #This Flag campaign which is led
by Pastor Evan Mawarire. Another protest movement was dubbed #Tajamuka/Sesijikile
which is a conglomeration of youths from various political and civic groups protesting
against gross human rights violations and political repression. The other protestors were
members of the National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) who protested against
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s continued stay at Rainbow Towers hotel. The protests
were mostly driven by discontent over the deteriorating social and economic conditions. In
addition the protests also highlighted the rampant human rights abuses and corruption. The
protests demonstrated the nexus between socio economic rights (SER) and civil and political
rights (CPR) in Zimbabwe.
The state response to the protests was characterised by repression and labelling. On 8 and 9
June fifteen (15) activists from Occupy Africa Unity Square were arrested. Five of them were
charged with robbery (which they argued was a fake robbery). The other ten were charged
with Defeating or Obstructing the course of justice, a crime they apparently committed in
trying to prevent the arrest of the first five. On 20 June police pounced on Africa Unity
Square protestors and assaulted them before ordering them off the park. The assaults were a
violation of Section 59 of the Constitution which states that every person has the right to
demonstrate and petition as long as the processes are conducted in a peaceful manner.
NAVUZ chairperson Sten Zvorwadza, was on 26 June arrested at the Rainbow Towers hotel
after he and others members staged a protest. He was charged with contravening the Criminal
Law Codification and Reform Act for allegedly threatening to burn down the hotel and for
malicious damage to property. Zvorwadza was arrested with three other activists; Don
Mavhudzi, Tendai Kagodora and Liberty William. Among those arrested were five
journalists who were covering the demonstration at the hotel. Apart from the assaults and
arrests of protestors, a government Minister accused the protestors of being sponsored by the
West while protesters insisted they were spurred on by real issues that they continued to face.
The response of the state to the protests was likely to provoke more protests.
The deteriorating socio economic situation in Zimbabwe has shown that SER are a major and
growing source of violent conflicts throughout the country. It is also evident that in many
cases SER are as politically motivated and politicised as other human rights abuses. ZPP is
convinced that SER violations are part of a framework constituting structural violence that
prevents sustainable peace.
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