JUNE
The State-linked Zimpapers suspended the station manager of its talk radio station, CapiTalk FM,
for airing a once-off programme called ‘Ending Torture and Impunity in Zimbabwe’ on June 25. The
programme was part of the commemorations of the International Day in Support of Victims of
Torture, which comes every June 26 of the year. The journalist who anchored the programme was
also slapped with a three-week suspension. The programme, which featured various civil society
leaders and victims of torture, including ZPP National Director Jestina Mukoko, was stopped from
continuing halfway through. The programme was sponsored by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO
Forum, of which ZPP is a member. Zimbabwe has a long history of state sponsored abduction and
torture. Civil society organisations have since started a campaign codenamed #StopCapitalk, in
protest against the brazen attempt to stifle freedom of expression.
The generality of Zimbabweans, as documented by ZPP in June, rejected the amendment of the
Constitution, citing, among other reasons, the fact that it was too early to amend a constitution that
is yet to be fully implemented, and that the proposed amendments sought to entrench the powers
of the president, and were an assault on democracy. Below is a summary of the submissions made:
•
The Bill is a threat to the independence of the judiciary. For a country that is reeling from a
phase where the judiciary has been abused to achieve political ends, the bill seeks to make
the situation worse. Zimbabwe needs strong institutions, not those that are based on loyalty
to the political powers. The amendment excuses the executive from being accountable and
transparent as it allows for the overriding of parliament in approving international deals. The
Bill vests sweeping powers into the office of the president
•
The Bill is a reversal of the gains that were made seven years ago when over 94 percent of
3.3 million Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for the current constitution.
The majority of Zimbabweans also questioned the rationale behind amending the
Constitution when all of its provisions were yet to be fully implemented and many laws are
yet to be aligned. Citizens also implored government to fast-track the alignment of laws
before any process to amend the constitution.
•
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