Zimbabwe: Threats and intimidation against human rights defender Mr Okay Machisa
Human rights defender Mr Okay Machisa received threats by email on 16 February 2010. Okay Machisa is the National Director of Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), one of the main human rights organisations in the country, counting more than 700,000 members.
Further Information
ZimRights has actively worked on the constitution-making process, campaigning on the right of people to be involved in the drafting of the new constitution.
On the morning of 16 February 2010, Okay Machisa received an email warning him to be careful with his work. The message continued saying that a number of people “have been assigned to bring you down”. The email also threatened Okay Machisa's family, warning that something may happen at his home.
This is not the first attempt to intimidate ZimRights' National Director. In November 2009, returning home from a meeting, Okay Machisa saw armed men waiting for him at his home's gate. The men left after Okay Machisa alerted colleagues and before the police arrived. Several other active members of ZimRights are also the target of threats.
Front Line believes that the intimidation and threats against Okay Machisa and ZimRights are a consequence of the organisation's legitimate work on the constitution-making process and the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
