Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Press Statement – On the Days of Darkness in Zimbabwe (18.01.2019)

 

South Sudan: National Salvation Front/Army – Official Statement (18.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: The Republic is burning…

We should certainly know by now that it is one thing to overthrow a dictator or repel an invader and quite another thing really to achieve a revolution. Time and time and time again, the people discover that they have merely betrayed themselves into the hands of yet another Pharaoh who, since he was necessary to put the broken country together, will not let them go.”James Baldwin

Today, yet another where the Internet is blocked. Social Media is blocked. This is done after orders from above high. However, that isn’t the worse, that the state has put its tech savvy citizens on VPN. No, what is worse is the state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

The former Henchmen of Robert Mugabe is now acting all out. While President Emmerson Mnangagwa just opened the internet up for a few hours yesterday, because he couldn’t leave Russia without paying the company flying his luxury private yet. That is why the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe was ordered to open the internet for that transaction alone. While, the same state, had no issues shutting it down again when the transaction was done.

This just show how sinister and without any concern they are. There are already reports of several hundred arrested up to 600. Many of the high ranking in Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance has been apprehended. Several activists have been put behind bars. The leaders of Unions has been taken and not been since in the last few days. After the announcement of the Shutdown. Like there is no sign of ZCTU President Peter Mutesa.

Today, it has further escalated, as the activist and This Flag Movement Head Pastor Evans Mawarire, was at Rotten Row in Harare charged with treason, as the state are looking into discovery to finalize the investigation into him. As they took him from his home yesterday without any warning, as they first charging him with inciting violence. However, he was just spreading messages of peaceful protest against unfair pricing of fuel and destruction of the livelihood of the people, because of it. By 16th January, the ZADHR reported that there was 172 people in severe condition and 68 cases with gun-shot wounds.

Just to make the situation worse, Povo News reported: “police are raiding medical facilities looking for victms of their own brutality so that they can arrest them. Significant number of victims now fearing to get treatment for injuries because of possibility of being arrested” (Povo News, 17.01.2019).

This is the fourth day, there are some reports of soldiers going door to door in some townships and beating people up. Hard to verify, but wouldn’t be surprising, as the levels of people hurt and wounded. Also, the need for lawyers and medical personnel all over the country to the people in need. Therefore, the full picture of these few days atrocities will surface sooner or later. The sadness is for all the fallen, all the innocent people touched by the authorities that is supposed to guard them, not hurt them.

They have lost their sense of care and governance, as they have retaliated and attacked them. Instead of governing them, they are detaining them as prisoners to their rule. A fully transparent military dictatorship with no mercy for the civilians nor civic duties.

Operation Restore Legacy and the November Coup d’etat in 2017 didn’t bring any significant changes. As Mnangagwa and Gen. Constantino Chiwenga is doing the same thing as before. Even more brazen and more harsher. As they are enforcing no tolerance and no mercy on their citizens. As they are not accepting the Stay Away or Shutdown protests. They are going violent and assaulted for standing up for their rights and the new insane prices on fuel, which will destroy livelihood of the citizens and the businesses. However, the ZANU-PF promised to be Republic open for business, but this actions are showing there are closed. The ZANU-PF is showing that they are not keen on transparent or a just society for all people. They are willing to arrest, detain, hurt and kill the ones who are in their pathway. That is what has been reported, we just don’t know to what extent.

The Zimbabweans got rid of Mugabe, but they got a incarnated and younger version of him. Who has no care for them either. He will use the same methods and destruction,

The ones fighting to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe before and during this is foolish. As long as the state is killing civilians, silencing protesters, arresting activists, union leaders and opposition leaders. The International Community will not be interesting to lift anything, as they see the same rouge state as before. Just with another head and PR Machine, but no intent of making changes. The Mnangagwa Presidency has been marred with economic difficulties and no utter atrocities, which is not sending signals of hope, but instead despair.

Mnangagwa was another Pharaoh, he wasn’t the great hope. Instead, more Mugabeisms. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Rebuild Hope, Trust, Confidence and Stability in Zimbabwe – Pastoral Letter of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference on current affairs in the country (17.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: MDC-Alliance Press Statement – Mnangagwa and Gen Chiwenga responsible for lootings, shootings and terrorism (16.01.2019)

Reports of excessive force against Sudan protests deeply worrying – Bachelet (17.01.2019)

Bachelet called on the Government to protect the exercise by all of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, regardless of their political affiliations.

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 17, 2019 – Credible reports of the use of excessive force, including live ammunition, by State security forces against protestors across Sudan over the past month are deeply worrying, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Thursday. Bachelet called on the Government to protect the exercise by all of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, regardless of their political affiliations.

The demonstrations since 19 December 2018 have taken place in a number of cities across Sudan, including Wad Madani, Port Sudan, Al-Qadarif, Atbara, Berber, Dongla, Karima, Al-Damazin, Al Obeid, Khartoum, Sinar, Bara, Nyala and Omdurman. The Government has confirmed that 24 people have died in the course of the protests, but other credible reports suggest the death toll may be nearly twice as high. Many others have been injured. According to information received, security forces have also followed some protestors into the Omdurman Hospital and fired tear gas and live ammunition inside the premises of the hospital. Reports also suggest that police fired tear gas inside Bahri Teaching Hospital and Haj Al-Safi Hospital. These two hospitals are in Khartoum North, where a large protest was organized by opposition groups.

Authorities have also confirmed that up to 6 January, at least 816 people were arrested in connection with the demonstrations. Reports indicate that these include journalists, opposition leaders, protestors and representatives of civil society.

“A repressive response can only worsen grievances,” High Commissioner Bachelet said.

“I am very concerned about reports of excessive use of force, including live ammunition, by Sudanese State Security Forces during large-scale demonstrations in various parts of the country since 19 December. The Government needs to ensure that security forces handle protests in line with the country’s international human rights obligations by facilitating and protecting the right to peaceful assembly.” *

As a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights since 1986, Sudan is obliged to take all necessary measures intended to prevent arbitrary deprivations of life by their law enforcement officials. In particular, all operations of law enforcement officials should comply with relevant international standards, including the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (General Assembly resolution 34/169)(1979) and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990).

The High Commissioner noted that fact-finding committees had been established by the Government and the National Commission of Human Rights. She urged that any investigations be conducted in a prompt, thorough and transparent manner, with a view to accountability.

“I also call on the authorities to ensure that all those arbitrarily detained for the exercise of their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression are promptly released, and that these rights are fully protected,” Bachelet added.

“I urge the authorities to work to resolve this tense situation through dialogue, and call on all sides to refrain from the use of violence.”

Bachelet stressed the readiness of the UN Human Rights Office to deploy a team to Sudan, to advice the authorities and help ensure they act in accordance with the country’s international human rights obligations.

Statement of the Chairperson of the Commission on the terrorist attack in Nairobi (17.01.2019)

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses that this cowardly attack, once again, underlines the imperative for renewed and reinvigorated efforts to combat terrorism throughout the continent.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 17, 2019 – The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack that took place today against innocent civilians in Nairobi, Kenya. He expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses that this cowardly attack, once again, underlines the imperative for renewed and reinvigorated efforts to combat terrorism throughout the continent. He commends the swift response by the security forces of Kenya and expresses the solidarity of the AU with the government and people of Kenya.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s commitment to continue working with its Member States and partners in the fight against terrorism throughout the continent, as well as to pursue its efforts to stabilize the situation in Somalia and the fight against al-Shabaab, through its Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)

SADC to Convene a Double Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government on the Situation in Democratic Republic of Congo (16.01.2019)

RDC: Declaration Commune Des Forces Vives De La Nation Pour La Verite Des Urnes (15.01.2019)

ZADHR Press release: Hundreds shot, tens estimated dead in rampant rights violations across Zimbabwe (15.01.2019)

15 January 2019, 2300 Hrs

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) continues to receive disturbing reports of gross human rights violations across Zimbabwe.

ZADHR has attended to a total of one hundred and seven patients by 1600 hrs of the 15th of January 2019. The injuries ranged from extensive deglouving wounds secondary to gunshot wounds, gunshot wounds in the head, penetrating abdominal trauma and blunt trauma. The majority of the cases were concentrated in Bulawayo, Harare ( particularly Mabvuku and Chitungwiza), Karoi and Kadoma.

ZADHR has also received unconfirmed reports of several deaths across Zimbabwe. One person is alleged to have been run over by a security personnel truck in Harare, and one person who was declared dead on arrival at a medical facility in Kadoma. Reports of other deaths in Epworth and parts of Harare and Chitungwiza are also still being verified. ZADHR estimates the total number of deaths by end of yesterday to be in the region of five to ten casualties. It has been difficult to verify this information due to the internet blackout in Zimbabwe. (ZADHR will release another statement once all tallies from their members are authoritatively collated)

There has also been confirmed reports of retributive torture, beatings and displacements in Mabvuku, Chitungwiza and Kadoma throughout the night of fourteen January 2019. ZADHR is aware of four patients who were scheduled to undergo major surgery for limb saving procedures, penetrating abdominal trauma and neurosurgical procedures in Harare alone. Many patients also had sharpnel and foreign bodies from live ammunition.

ZADHR condemns these gross human rights violations, the use of live ammunition on protesters and any use of torture as a tool to punish protesters. ZADHR also calls upon the authorities to urgently allow those who have been arrested in multiple dragnets cast across the country to receive urgent medical care. Hundreds of injured people have not been attended to as they can’t travel to medical institutions or as they fear arrests or possible victimization.

ZADHR also calls upon all parties to excersice restraint and express their right to protest in non violent and peaceful ways. ZADHR calls for the international community (SADC, AU , UN) to swiftly intervene in the Zimbabwe crisis before the tense situation escalates into a humanitarian disaster.

ZADHR continues to provide urgent medical care to those in need as a result of these disturbances and is reachable via WhatsApp, calls, sms on its hotline 0777604610.

ZADHR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT