Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Arbitrarily Detained Opposition Activists in Zimbabwe
By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare, Zimbabwe – Amnesty International has urged the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately release the 77 opposition activists who were arbitrarily detained and allegedly tortured in custody on June 16, 2024.
The activists, who are members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), were arrested while gathered at a private residence to commemorate the International Day of the African Child.
Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa, condemned the arrests, saying they are “part of a disturbing pattern of repression against people exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.”
Farisè called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees and urged the authorities to drop all charges against them.
The detainees, including interim party leader Jameson Timba, were held in custody for over 48 hours without appearing before a competent court, violating Zimbabwean laws, Amnesty International said.
They have been charged with “gathering with intent to promote public violence and disorderly conduct” and remain in remand awaiting court proceedings.
Amnesty International has also called for an investigation into allegations of torture while in police custody and for those affected to receive urgent medical attention.
The also organization emphasized the need for Zimbabwean authorities to uphold the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations, including the rights to peaceful assembly, liberty and freedom from torture and other ill-treatment.
