Police persecution of human rights defenders continues

The continued persecution and arrests of journalists and civic society members across the country by State security agents is as worrying as it is a violation of human rights.

The arrest today 6 December 2011 of Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) Director Andrew Moyse at his Milton Park offices in Harare comes on the backdrop of a series of arrests of human rights defenders and journalist. On Sunday, three officials from MMPZ - Fadzai December, Molly Chimhanda and Gilbert Mabusa were arrested in Gwanda for facilitating a civic education meeting in the town last month. They are still in police custody.

They are being charged under the repressive Public Order and Security Act (POSA), an Act which should be repealed.

These continued arrests, detentions and persecutions of journalists at a time when the country is supposed to be working hard to open up space for freedom of expression, assembly and communication is very disturbing

The police should be professional and not to be abused by any political party. It is sad to note that the arrests of the four MMPZ officials follow that of four other journalists who have recently been arrested on the instructions of Zanu PF officials.

The Daily News editor, Stanley Gama and reporter Xolisani Ncube were arrested last week on the instructions of Zanu PF’s Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo. They were charged with criminal defamation after exposing Chombo’s ill-gotten wealth.

Last month, Nevanji Madanhire, the editor of The Standard and reporter Nqaba Matshazi were arrested after reporting that a medical aid owned by a Zanu PF sympathiser was collapsing.

It is very worrisome that any opinions, analysis, news reports or meetings that are not pro Zanu PF suddenly become matters of interest to the police and innocent people are arrested.

Zanu PF manipulate donor food aid distribution

Drought, a chaotic and often violent land reform exercise have all contributed to food shortages in Zimbabwe since 2000. In recent years, the shortages have been severe and given ZANU PF the opportunity to "punish" those members of the public, especially in rural areas who have not supported Mugabe's party.

MDC Members in rural Zimbabwe face harassment,violence and displacement

There is a silent war going on in rural Zimbabwe targetting MDC members, activists and office bearers. In a campaign of harassment and violence, Zanu PF is putting intolerable pressure on opposition members forcing them to abandon their homes and seek refuge in urban areas where MDC regional offices and safety can be found. This, at a cost to their livelihoods, has left many Zimbabwean citizens dispossesed of a normal life in their new status as internally displaced persons.