Zimbabwean police dispersing people at an intersection in Chitungwiza to prevent what they considered an illegal gathering. (Zinyange Auntony / AFP)
- Zanu-PF commended state security for arresting suspected would-be protesters ahead of last week’s SADC summit in Harare.
- A Zanu-PF official said dissenters knew now what would happen to them.
- Around 200 civil society activists and opposition members have been arrested since mid-June.
In Zimbabwe, 200 civil society activists and opposition members have been jailed since June, coinciding with the 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) ordinary summit. Now that the summit is over, calls for their release are growing.
Christopher Mutsvangwa, a Zanu-PF politburo member, suggested releasing the detainees now that they no longer pose a threat to the regime in Harare. Amnesty International has also called for the release of all arrested individuals, citing human rights violations by security forces.
Opposition politician Prince Dubeko Sibanda, arrested for incitement to commit public violence, is awaiting a bail hearing. Human Rights Watch has raised concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe.