The authorities used COVID-19 regulations to justify severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. They deployed security forces to abduct, assault and torture perceived critics, and opposition members and leaders. Police and security agents killed at least 10...

Responding to the arbitrary arrest and detention of two lawyers Doug Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi by Zimbabwe police on 4 September 2023, for representing Womberaiishe Nhende an opposition elected councillor and Sonele Mukhuhlani, who were abducted and tortured over the weekend, Khanyo Farisè,...

Responding to the inaugurationof Emmerson Mnangagwa for his second term as President amid a political climate of fear and reports of multiple human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, abductions and torture of opposition party activists, Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy...

Responding to reports of the enforced disappearance and torture of Nelson Mukwenha, a political activist for opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), allegedly at the hands of security forces on 26 August, Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa,...

Zimbabwe’s general elections have been marred by reports of voter intimidation, the arrest of civil society organization (CSOs) staff members and mounting fears of an internet shutdown, Amnesty International said today. “We are deeply concerned by disturbing reports of widespread voter intimidation...

Responding to news of the death of Tinashe Chitsunge, an opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist in Harare on Thursday, allegedly at the hands of ruling ZANU-PF supporters, Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said: “The fatal attack on Tinashe...

Zimbabwe’s upcoming general election will take place in the context of  five years of systematic, brutal crackdowns on human rights, including recent restrictions on political opposition gatherings, the violent suppression of protests and the criminalization of state critics, Amnesty International...

Responding to the news that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Bill, 2022, commonly referred to as the “Patriotic Bill”, Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Research Director for Southern Africa, said: “The signing of the...

Responding to the news Tafadzwa Shamba and Tapiwa Makore Senior have been sentenced to death by the Harare High Court over the murder of Tapiwa Makore three years ago, Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said: “Amnesty International opposes the death penalty...

Responding to the news that the Senate has passed on 7 June 2023 the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Bill 2022, commonly referred to as the “Patriotic Bill”, which criminalizes “wilfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe”, Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty...

The conviction and sentencing of Job Sikhala, a member of parliament for the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), for obstructing justice, is a travesty and further evidence of an escalating crackdown on peaceful dissent and the right to freedom of expression ahead of the elections due...

Authorities across East and Southern Africa escalated their attacks against journalists and press freedom across the region to suppress reporting of corruption and human rights violations throughout 2022, the Media Institute of Southern Africa and Amnesty International said today to mark World...

Zimbabweans are marking forty-three years of independence from colonial rule amid the reality of a rapidly shrinking civic space, including criminalization of dissent and targeting of political activists and human rights defenders, Amnesty International said today. “Forty-three years after...