SA must take tougher stand on Zim - re****t
IOL
Edwin Naidu
December 16 2007 at 02:02PM
President Thabo Mbeki and the South African government have been
called upon to show stronger leader****p in a new re****t that says the
current atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Zimbabwe has cast doubts
about whether presidential elections scheduled for March 2008 will be free
and fair.
The re****t, released on Wednesday, said Mbeki should do more to oppose
abuses in Zimbabwe and should use his role as mediator to oppose torture
and
political violence, and to promote free and fair elections and basic human
rights there.
Zimbabwe's 2008 presidential campaign has begun amid fears of an
escalation in violence in which prominent opposition leaders, ordinary
Movement for Democratic Change members and local community organisers are
being systematically targeted.
The re****t said victims of torture and political violence for whom it
is not safe in Zimbabwe should be granted political asylum consistent with
the protection of international law.
"Appropriate access to medical, mental-health and social services
should be ensured and South Africa must provide protection for Zimbabweans
fleeing persecution and political violence. Given recent events and
historical increases in violence prior to Zimbabwean elections, the South
African government and refugee organisations should prepare for an
increase
in the number of Zimbabwean victims of torture and political violence,"
the
re****t said.
We Have Degrees in Violence - A Re****t on Torture and Human Rights
Abuses in Zimbabwe was published by the Open Society Initiative for
Southern
Africa, the Open Society Institute and the Bellevue/NYU Programme for
Survivors of Torture.
The re****t, the first conducted by international health professionals,
provides evidence that the Zimbabwean government is systematically using
torture and violence as a political deterrent.
The re****t do***ents how victims of political violence have been
tortured and subjected to other human rights abuses, causing devastating
health consequences. Victims were detained under inhuman conditions and
denied appropriate access to medical and legal assistance.
"Members of civil society, including doctors and lawyers assisting
victims of political violence, also described being subjected to
harassment
by government authorities. These findings raise profound concerns as to
whether elections scheduled for 2008 will be free and fair," the re****t
said.
The re****t carries testimony from 24 Zimbabwean victims of torture and
political violence. "All had clear physical and psychological evidence of
torture and abuse corroborating their testimony. These victims of
political
violence included both men and women. They were not randomly targeted, but
included national and local leaders of the political opposition, community
organisers and ordinary citizens.
"Zimbabweans who were arrested and detained for their political
activities described being detained under filthy, inhuman conditions as
well
as being denied basic necessities such as food, water, light and blankets.
This torture and political violence has devastating physical,
psychological
and social health consequences.
"At the time of evaluation, all 24 of the Zimbabwean victims of
torture and political violence evaluated for this re****t continued to
suffer
from substantial and often debilitating physical and psychological
symptoms
as a result of their abuse . Victims frequently described profound fear of
further torture or death as well as threats to their family."
The re****t said Zimbabwean victims of torture as well as Zimbabwean
advocates in South Africa described the many problems that Zimbabwean
refugees encounter upon their arrival in South Africa. This includes
problems with obtaining refugee status or political asylum; problems with
attaining adequate food and shelter; difficulty getting appropriate and
necessary healthcare; and ongoing fears of de****tation and discrimination.
At least 459 cases of human rights violations were do***ented by human
rights organisations between March and May, according to Douglas Gwatidzo,
a
human rights activist, who said the government was targeting leaders and
organisers. "They come in the middle of the night, pick you up, beat you
and
leave you there. They don't care if you die; that is one way they are
beating people into submission," he said.
Dr Reginald Matchaba-Hove, who served as chairman of the Zimbabwe
Election Sup****t Network until April 2007, said violence would have an
effect on the outcome of the election. "Firstly, it is a tool of
intimidation. By beating up people like [MDC leader Morgan] Tsvangirai
they
are sending the message that no one is safe. And when word gets out into
the
rural areas that you are not safe, this will have enormous impact. There
is
already intimidation in past elections by local tribal leaders who are
loyal
to the government - if you don't vote for the government party you won't
get
food aid," he said.
Sekai Holland, a 64-year-old MDC leader, who was among those beaten up
in March, said: "There was one woman who was jumping on the women. She
made
a hole in me which required plastic surgery. She was calling us
prostitutes
of [former British prime minister] Tony Blair."
This article was originally published on page 3 of Sunday Independent
on December 16, 2007
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