The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Zimbabwe.
According to the information received, on April 15, 2010, approximately at 12:30 a.m, 70 WOZA members were arrested by police officers from Harare Central Police Station while they were participating in a peaceful procession in Harare outside the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) headquarters. The demonstration sought to put pressure on the electricity service provider to provide a more efficient service and billing system and to stop taking advantage of economic problems to bill people excessively for a substandard service.
Four hours later, 66 WOZA members were released without any charge brought against them. As for Ms. Jennifer Williams, WOZA National Coordinator, Ms. Magodonga Mahlangu, Ms. Clara Manjengwa and Ms. Celina Madukani, they were released from police custody on April 20, after spending five nights in cells. The Attorney General’s office refused to press charges against the four women defenders due to lack of sufficient evidence.
While in detention, the four women endured very bad conditions. The corridors and floor of the female cells were covered in urine and human faeces due to blocked toilets and only sporadic water supply. The four defenders all require medical treatment for a rash all over their bodies and diarrhoea due to the filthy conditions and flu symptoms from the cold conditions. Their bodies also ache from being forced to sit and sleep on cold concrete for six days.
The Observatory expresses its deepest concern about the arbitrary arrest of the above-mentioned WOZA members and believes that their arrest is directly related to their human rights activities. The Observatory is concerned that these acts form part of an ongoing trend of harassment by the Zimbabwe Republic Police against human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, especially against those wishing to exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of Zimbabwe asking them to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Jennifer Williams, Ms. Magodonga Mahlangu, Ms. Clara Manjengwa and Ms. Selina Madukani as well as all WOZA members and all human rights defenders in the country;
ii. Put an end to any kinds of harassment, including at the judicial level, against WOZA members as well as against all human rights defenders in Zimbabwe;
iii. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, and Article 12.2, which provides that the State shall “take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of his or her rights”;
iv. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Zimbabwe.
Addresses:
· President of Zimbabwe, Mr. Robert G. Mugabe, Office of the President, Private Bag 7700, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 708 211 / + 263.4.70.38.58;
· Mr. Khembo Mohadi, co-Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 11th Floor Mukwati Building, Private Bag 7703, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 726 716;
· Mr. Giles Mutsekwa, co-Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 11th Floor Mukwati Building, Private Bag 7703, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 726 716;
· Mr. Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Fax: + 263 4 77 29 99 / +263 4 252 155;
· Mr. Augustine Chihuri, Commissioner General, Police Headquarters, P.O. Box 8807, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 253 212 / 728 768 / 726 084;
· Mr. Justice Johannes Tomana, Attorney-General, Office of the Attorney, PO Box 7714, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax: + 263 4 77 32 47;
· Mrs. Chanetsa, Office of the Ombudsman Fax: + 263 4 70 41 19;
· Ambassador Mr. Chitsaka Chipaziwa, Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe to the United Nations in Geneva, Chemin William Barbey 27, 1292 Chambésy, Switzerland, Fax: + 41 22 758 30 44, Email: mission.zimbabwe@ties.itu.int;
· Embassy of Zimbabwe in Brussels, 11 SQ Josephine Charlotte, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 96 05 / + 32 2 775 65 10, Email: zimbrussels@skynet.be.
Please also write to the embassies of Zimbabwe in your respective country.
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Paris-Geneva, April 23, 2010