Harare – A wave of concern is sweeping through the Zimbabwean diaspora following the continued detention of numerous political activists and human rights defenders. This concern culminated in a powerful demonstration outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in London on Friday.
Organised by CCC UK, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO), and other activists, including the exiled Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, the protest aimed to pressure the Zimbabwean government to release all those unjustly imprisoned.
The protestors delivered a petition to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the UK government to intervene and secure the release of the detainees. The petition, a stark indictment of the Zimbabwean government’s actions, stated: “Zimbabwean authorities must end their crackdown on opposition and civil society members who were arrested ahead of the SADC summit in August 2024.
“The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release everyone detained for exercising their rights. Additionally, authorities must promptly and effectively investigate allegations of torture or ill-treatment of detainees and hold any suspected perpetrators accountable through fair proceedings.”
The demonstration highlights the plight of over 100 activists arrested in the lead-up to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in August. While some have since been released, many remain incarcerated, their freedom unjustly curtailed. This ongoing repression has fuelled the diaspora’s determination to seek international intervention.
The petition also addressed the critical issue of the diaspora vote, a long-standing demand of opposition activists.
“Over six million Zimbabweans in the diaspora have been denied their human right to vote by the Zanu PF administration, on the grounds that they are ‘outside the country.’ We seek assistance, both financial and material, to conduct an independent Zimbabwean Diaspora Election concurrently with the official general elections in Zimbabwe,” the petition read.
This plea underscores the deep frustration felt by Zimbabweans living abroad, who feel disenfranchised and excluded from the political process in their homeland.
The protest follows the recent release of Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of the opposition party Transform Zimbabwe, on bail after 82 days in pre-trial detention. Justice Emilia Muchawa of the Harare High Court granted him bail of US$100, with conditions including surrendering his passport and refraining from posting on the social media platform, X.
Ngarivhume’s arrest on August 2nd, in the run-up to the SADC summit, was part of a wider crackdown on pro-democracy activists. He faces charges of disorderly conduct and participating in an illegal gathering with intent to promote public violence, allegedly committed in June this year.
The timing of Ngarivhume’s release, however, offers little comfort to those who remain imprisoned. Award-winning investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, writing in September before Ngarivhume’s release, painted a grim picture of the situation:
“Today, Zimbabwe has over 70 political prisoners, including opposition leader and former cabinet minister Jameson Timba, and political and anti-corruption activist Jacob Ngarivhume. They are accused of crimes they did not commit. Timba and the 65 others who were arrested at his home have been in jail for 106 days. Jacob Ngarivhume was arrested on the eve of the SADC summit for supposedly planning with Timba, yet the two men have never met. His real crime is fighting against corruption, particularly his 2020 threat to mobilise citizens to march against it.
“Zimbabwe’s corrupt tyrant, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has never forgiven him for that. Let us keep these political prisoners in our political discourse, they are in jail for fighting for us and for our rights. Keeping quiet about these men and women makes the corrupt Zimbabwean tyrant comfortable and happy!”
Chin’ono’s statement underscores the broader context of the arrests – a systematic targeting of those who dare to challenge the government. The charges levelled against these activists are often flimsy, masking a deeper intention to silence dissent and consolidate power. The prolonged pre-trial detention, often exceeding months, constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental human rights.
