Zimbabwe marred by shrinking civic space, says activist

Amnesty International says today, Zimbabwe is marking forty-three years of independence from the British colonial rule “amid the reality of a rapidly shrinking civic space, including criminalisation of dissent and targeting of political activists and human rights defenders.”

The organisation’s Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa, Flavia Mwangovya argues that, “Forty-three years after independence, authorities are yet to guarantee in practice the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly which are increasingly being threatened despite being guaranteed under the constitution and international law.”

Mwangovya claims that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly has continuously been violated and undermined in Zimbabwe with the authorities refusing to give clearance for some of the main opposition party’s rallies, arresting and convicting protesters and using excessive force to stop protests.

“As Zimbabwe approaches elections later this year, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly have come under increasing attack. Dissenting voices are being criminalised, with some opposition activists put in lengthy pre-trial detentions.” Mwangovya added.

The human rights activist is calling on authorities to stop criminalizing dissent and ensure the levelling of the playing field as the country fast approaches the elections. She strongly advocates for the opposition to be allowed to carry out their campaigns and says that individuals and groups must be protected from politically motivated violence.

“Authorities must promote, protect and uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as guarantee the socio-economic rights of every Zimbabwean,” she said.