Heal Zimbabwe bemoans escalation of violence

Heal Zimbabwe Trust  has said the country is currently undergoing serious socio-economic and political challenges which have triggered mass popular protests and demonstrations across the country from war veterans to the ordinary citizens and from political parties to national institutions and it was concerned over the rise of violence committed by the state on its citizens.

"Once their grievances, collectively, are not addressed, there is potential for continued unrests. Between June and August 2016 over 15 demonstrations were conducted in Harare, Beitbridge, Kwekwe, Bulawayo, Mutare, Victoria Falls, Bindura and other smaller towns of Zimbabwe," the organisation said.

"Chief propagators of these social uprisings are ordinary citizens leading different social movements whose aim is to seek government audience to address their needs. While some of the protests have turned violently, many have been largely peaceful albeit brutal police reaction on each of them. The declining economic situation and political malaise are principally the root cause of these groups. War Veterans have also been coalescing against perpetual discrimination of their welfare by the government."

Heal Zimbabwe said the country's crisis is, however, suddenly reaching a knocking point resulting from the government's response to the public expression.

"Law enforcement agencies are legally mandated to maintain law and order in the country and ensuring that citizens have constitutional rights (section 58 & 59) to "freedom of assembly and association, and the right to assemble or associate with others' and the right to demonstrate and to present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully.

"1 Of significance to note is that in an attempt to promote national security, maintaining law and order, the law enforcement agencies has violently responded to citizens' freedom of expression and association using excessive force teargas, water cannons, baton sticks and sometimes unleashing dogs," said the organisation. 

"Such mighty showing responses have resulted in members of the public fighting back to the police, for instance, by throwing stones, beating the police and burning vehicles and destroying properties."

The  trust said criminal cantons have also taken this chaotic opportunity to steal or loot shops, perpetuate violence and further widen the rift between members of the public and the law enforcement agencies.

"Political parties particularly those in Zanu PF and the MDC could also have obtained an opportunity to settle their political scores, emerging either from their internal factionalism or across the parties. It is within this context that police brutality has become a challenge to enhancing peace and order in the country. The coming on board of the Army as was the case last Friday, 26 August 2016 will not help the matter either. Rather it may send a wrong impression that the police have failed to protect citizens hence the need for a military intervention, But Zimbabwe is not at war," said the trust.