Torture and other political violence in Zimbabwe fell by 50% during May compared to the month before, rights groups said on Friday, while condemning other abuses against the press and lawyers.
”The reduction in the scale of political violence does not overshadow the fact that all forms of torture and deprivation of property rights constitute gross human rights violations,” the Human Rights NGO Forum said in a report.
”With available evidence indicating that the majority of perpetrators are ruling party supporters, with tacit government support, assertions by the government that they are adhering to principles of democracy and human rights are thereby undermined,”
it said.
The coalition of rights groups said they had documented 13 cases of politically motivated torture, one rape, two killings, two kidnappings and three instances of theft or property damage — far lower than the levels of violence during the run-up to and
aftermath of the March 9-11 presidential elections, which saw President Robert Mugabe re-elected.
But rights groups have also voiced growing concern over a legal crackdown on journalists and lawyers.
Eleven journalists and at least two top lawyers have been arrested since President Robert Mugabe’s controversial re-election, which has been rejected by the opposition, independent oberservers, western nations and other observers.
”Zimrights is concerned that the government’s best efforts seem to be directed at suppressing expression, opinion, views and choices,” Zimbabwe Human Rights Association national chairman
Arnold Tsunga said.
”Yet such efforts must be directed towards rebuilding the economy and investor confidence, restoring the rule of law, taking concrete steps to alleviate poverty, hunger and general mass suffering, as well as taking decisive steps to revive the collapsing health delivery system in the midst of HIV and Aids,” he said. – Sapa-AFP