Mr Okay Machisa

Since 16 February 2010, executive members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) have received a number of threatening messages. On 17 February, Front Line issued an urgent appeal on the threats against Mr Okay Machisa, ZimRights National Director. On 25 February, Mr Nunurai Jena, Mr Netsai Kaitano and Mr Jabulisa Tshuma also received threats.

Further Information

Nunurai Jena is ZimRights Regional Chairperson in Mashonaland West, Netsai Kaitano is the Regional Chairperson in Chitungwiza, and Jabulisa Tshuma is the organisation’s treasurer.

The threatening messages warned them to stop their civic education activities in rural areas in relation to the constitution making process. The messages were each sent from the same Telecel mobile telephone number, which is now unreachable.

The threat against Okay Machisa also seemed motivated by his presence to a European Union meeting in Brussels on the targeted sanctions against a number of Zimbabwean political figures. The message read “You enjoy flying in and out of the country demonizing your country, why don’t you go and stay there? They monitor, soon you will all stay out.” ZimRights has reported the threats to the Central Police Station.

ZimRights is one of many organisations that has suffered increased harassment in recent weeks. Executive members of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ) have been threatened, arrested, and their offices raided three times in seven days, due to the recent release of the documentary “House of Justice” and the report “If something is wrong” on the plight of farm workers and the human rights violations committed by the authorities in the context of the land reform programme.

Ms Gertrude Hambira, GAPWUZ Secretary-General, went into hiding following a police raid in GAPWUZ offices on 24 February and unveiled threats received during a meeting with security officials on 19 February. During the meeting, the officials warned Gertrude Hambira not to present the report to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Tribunal and she was informed that she would be summoned again. Mr Gift Muti and Mr Manjemanje Munyanyi, r espectively GAPWUZ Assistant Secretary-General and President, were arrested during a second police raid in GAPWUZ offices on 26 February. GAPWUZ offices were again raided on 1 March.

Several other human rights defenders have also been targeted recently. Most recently, on 2 March 2010, police in Mutare arrested and detained three members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), who were attending a training of the union’s Regional Women’s Advisory Council.

On 24 February, a Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) meeting in the Uzumba district was disrupted by the local ZANU-PF councillor and other party members claiming that the meeting had not been sanctioned by their party, despite police clearance. The same week, three members of Civic Education Trust (Civnet) were arrested in Bindura for holding a public meeting.

In Chimanimani West, a team of doctors from the Counselling Services Unit (CSU) who were conducting a workshop were interrogated by officials of the Police Intelligence Special Investigations (PISI) on accounts that the workshop was political.

Throughout January and February, several members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) in Harare and Mutare were arrested and detained for participating in peaceful protests on at least four occasions. On 1 March 2010, the Ministers for Home Affairs summoned WOZA leaders and questioned them about their activities, which - they alleged - scared away investors.

Front Line is deeply concerned by the increased levels of threats, intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe in the recent months, and fear s this may escalate even further in connection with the constitutional reform process.