Harare – Zimbabwe’s opposition and civil society groups are facing an intensifying crackdown from the government, as the country prepares to host a regional summit next month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.
The rights group said police arrested dozens of people, including opposition leader Jameson Timba, and disrupted opposition gatherings in recent weeks.
Zimbabwe is due to host heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the capital, Harare on August 17.
“The government of President Mnangagwa is accelerating its crackdown against legitimate and peaceful activism ahead of the August summit,” said Allan Ngari, HRW Africa advocacy director.
Timba, who took over the leadership of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party following the resignation of its previous head Nelson Chamisa in January, was held along with more than 70 activists last month, as police raided his home.
Those detained were charged with disorderly conduct and participating in an unlawful gathering.
Fellow opposition politicians said Timba was hosting a barbecue.
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At a bail hearing lawyers for the arrested accused the police of using excessive force, firing teargas at a private residence and beating and torturing their clients.
Some were thrown into a swimming pool while others were made to crawl, they said.
The group were denied bail and are awaiting trial.
After police scuffled with opposition supporters outside court, the government accused “criminal and opportunistic elements within the opposition” of attempting to “instigate anarchy”.
Days later, five members of a movement called the National Democratic Working Group were arrested in a separate raid on a private home.
Police also disrupted a memorial event for an opposition supporter killed in 2022 and arrested several participants, HRW said.
HRW called on SADC to “speak out” against the crackdown.
“SADC should promote respect for human rights by calling upon Zimbabwe’s government to end repression and the arbitrary arrests and prosecutions of activists and opposition supporters,” Ngari said.
“The pervasive climate of intimidation and repression needs to end.”
The government did not reply to a request for comment.
Last year, Zimbabwe’s opposition faced a wave of arrests after the country’s disputed August 23 elections.
Critics have long accused ZANU-PF – in power since independence in 1980 – of stifling dissent.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Instagram/@Jameson_Timba
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