For Immediate Release

15 May 2020

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is greatly concerned with continued cases of abductions, torture, beatings and inhumane treatment of civic and political activists.

The recent abduction, torture, inhumane treatment of three MDC Alliance activists, Harare West Legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe, MDC Youth Vice Chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri and Deputy Organising Secretary Netsai Marova points to shrinking democratic space.

The three activists who disappeared at a roadblock near the National Sports Stadium were later found dumped in Bindura, in a bad state and in need of urgent medical attention.

Zimbabwe has a disturbing record of enforced disappearances of opposition and civic society activists which happen in almost similar fashion.
Reports indicate that most are being abducted by masked and heavily armed men who torture them and later dump them in the middle of nowhere.

This is reminiscent of the Mugabe era and bears testimony to the fact that Zimbabwe remains stuck in the dark past.

As an umbrella body of civic society organizations, we demand the following;
I. An end to torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, murder, rape and maiming of civilians by the military and state security agents
II. Decriminalization of civil society work, political activism as well as union leaders and an end to arbitrary arrests
III. Respect for fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution including freedom of expression, freedom of association as well as the right to protest peacefully among other rights

ENDS//
Marvellous Kumalo
Spokesperson [email protected] /+263776379966/+263776191402
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition