The Southern African Anti-corruption Network (SAACoN) has been monitoring events in Zimbabwe with increasing concern for the safety of civil society activists, journalists and opposition politicians since 20 July 2020.
On 20 July 2020 investigative journalist Hopewell Chi’nono and opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume were arrested in the wake of the exposure of high level corruption in the Zimbabwean government’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Since that date the repressive actions of Zimbabwean security authorities have become increasingly widespread and violent and have included arbitrary arrests and detentions, kidnappings, beatings and torture.
The broadcast and widely disseminated statements of president Emmerson Mnangagwa on 3 August 2020 have not assuaged concerns about the disturbing happenings in the country, but have only served to heighten consternation and apprehensions about what is tragically busy unfolding in Zimbabwe.
In light of this, we remind the Zimbabwean government that the continued targeting and intimidation of journalists, civil society and political activists is contrary to Zimbabwe’s obligations under various regional, continental and international human rights instruments and treaties.
Furthermore, it is necessary to remind Zimbabwean authorities of their commitments under the SADC Protocol Against Corruption, the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the UN Convention Against Corruption, all of which obligate states to create and enhance an enabling environment for the media and civil society to play an active role in complementing the state’s anti-corruption efforts.
Specifically and pertinently, the SADC Protocol Against Corruption states: “Each State Party undertakes to adopt measures, which will create, maintain and strengthen:
- Mechanisms to encourage participation by the media, civil society and non-governmental organisations in efforts to prevent corruption.”
As a network of SADC-based civil society organisations engaged in advocating for rooting out corruption across the region with the aim of contributing to the socio-political and economic wellbeing and upliftment of the region and its peoples, we find the Zimbabwean state’s responses to the exposure of corruption and peaceful anti-corruption protests wholly inappropriate and unacceptable, and thus condemn these repressive actions in the strongest terms possible.
It is against this backdrop that we find the repressive actions and practices of the Zimbabwean state to be counterproductive and even criminal, and we call on Zimbabwean security and law enforcement authorities to cease their violations of the rights of freedom of expression, of the media and of assembly and call on the Zimbabwean state to live up to its obligations under various human rights and anti-corruption treaties.
At the same time we call on Zimbabwean authorities to enact a whistle-blower protection framework that effectively shields whistle-blowers from reprisals.
And finally, we call on SADC governments, civil society actors and citizens to stand in solidarity with the Zimbabwean people at this time and to express support for those in the media and civil society who continue to act in the best interests of a country and people already struggling under the burdens of a weak economy, prolonged food insecurity, runaway inflation, high unemployment and rampant poverty.
Issued by:
Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) – Zimbabwe
Botswana Centre for Public Integrity (BCPI) – Botswana
Centro de Integridade Pública (CIP) – Mozambique
Corruption Watch – South Africa
Economic Justice Network (EJN) – South Africa
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) – Namibia
Ligue Congolaise de Lutte Contre La Corruption (LICOCO) – Democratic Republic of Congo
Namibia Institute of Democracy- Namibia
National Integrity Platform – Malawi
Transparency International Mauritius
Transparency International Initiative Madagascar
Transparency International Zambia
Transparency International Zimbabwe
For more details please contact the following:
Mr Obert Chinhamo: +263 71 715 2535
Mr Frederico Links: +264 81 233 4705
Ms Pusetso Morapedi: +267 73 011 774
About SAACoN: SAACoN comprises a number of civil society in Southern Africa who exist to promote and advocate for the full implementation of anti-corruption protocols by SADC Member States.
