Zimbabwean authorities have denied bail to 98 activists arrested on March 31 for participating in an anti-government protest. The activists allegedly gathered at Robert Mugabe Square to march to State House and demand President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation. They threw stones, bricks, and objects at police while chanting anti-government slogans and barricading roads with burning tires.
This incident is part of a broader trend of Zimbabwean authorities cracking down on opposition and activism. In recent months, numerous activists, opposition party members, and human rights defenders have been arrested and detained.
Notable Cases of Detained Activists
– June 16, 2024: Over 70 opposition activists, including former Senator Jameson Timba, were arrested and detained in Harare for participating in a peaceful gathering. The bail hearing was delayed and eventually denied on June 27, 2024.
– June 27, 2024: President Emmerson Mnangagwa warned that those causing trouble would “be dealt with”. Police beat dozens of opposition supporters and arrested several outside the Harare court holding the bail hearing.
– June 29, 2024: Police arrested five more people at a private gathering, deeming it “unsanctioned”.
– July 2024: Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, condemned the Zimbabwean government’s crackdown on dissent, citing arbitrary arrests, torture, and intimidation of activists and opposition members.
Arrests of Opposition Leaders
– Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of the Transform Zimbabwe party, was arrested and denied bail for allegedly inciting public violence and subversion.
– 44 Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) students were arrested and beaten during a general council meeting.
Harassment of Activists
– Namatai Kwekweza and Samuel Gwenzi, human rights defenders, were arrested and allegedly tortured for participating in a protest.
The international community has taken notice of the situation, with concerns raised about Zimbabwe’s human rights record. The country’s upcoming chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has sparked calls for the organization to condemn human rights violations and press for the release of detained activists.
end//..
