Lawyers Committee calls upon G8 Leaders to Act on Zimbabwe

On November 18, 2003, around two hundred trade union and civil society activists were arrested by police in Zimbabwe as they gathered across the country to demonstrate peacefully against the political, economic and human rights crisis in the country. Among those arrested in Harare were leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Wellington Chibebe and Lovemore Matombo, and prominent rights activists Brian Raftopolous, John Makumbe, and Lovemore Madhuku. Several of those detained were severely assaulted, including Jenni Williams of the organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise. Some of the detainees were charged under the draconian Public Order and Security Act and released only after either paying admission of guilt fines, or on bail. The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights condemns this blatant violation of freedom of assembly, as well as the acts of violence and threats that were directed at these civil society and human rights activists. This latest round of arrests and mistreatment is yet another example of the Zimbabwean government's lack of tolerance of any form of expression of dissent. Human rights defenders in Zimbabwe remain at constant risk of attack, arrest and prosecution on baseless charges that violate their fundamental rights. The Zimbabwean government must put an end to this persecution of human rights defenders and immediately restore the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Read the report of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights on the arrests and detentions.