Purging of Mujuru scaring Zimbabweans

Human Rights Watch says President Robert Mugabe's purging of former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her allies is "a bad omen for rights" in Zimbabwe.

The rights group says in a statement for many Zimbabweans, the changes in the Zanu-PF leadership, particularly Mr. Mugabe's presidential endorsement for 2018, reflect a consolidation of his grip on the party and government, a retention of the status quo and dashes expectations for lasting rights reforms.

Human Rights Watch says though newly sworn in Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently refused to approve the death sentence for 97 murder convicts, his alleged links to Gukurahundi massacres of the early 1980s taint his record.

The organization's researcher, Dewa Mavhinga says he is pessimistic about Zimbabwe's future, especially following the announcement of the new old ministers.