Zimbabwe govt crackdown on dissent condemned

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has strongly criticized the government for its suppression of dissent and its inability to tackle the nation's socio-economic issues. 
During the African Commission on Human and People's Rights commemorations this week, the rights organization characterized Zimbabwe's human rights situation as dire. It expressed alarm over the government's use of legal action, violence, and intimidation to silence critics.
The human rights advocates specifically pointed to the case of opposition leader Job Sikhala, who has been denied bail a record 15 times, as an example of the government's manipulation of the legal system to quash dissent.

"The government's use of lawfare to suppress dissent is a serious miscarriage of justice," the forum stated. "The recent surge in post-election violence and intimidation against opposition supporters is unprecedented and unacceptable."

In addition to the crackdown on dissent, the forum voiced concern about the government's failure to address the nation's socio-economic challenges. It called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to pressure the Zimbabwean government to promptly address these issues.

"The African Commission has a duty to hold the Zimbabwean government accountable for its human rights record and to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe can fully enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms," the forum emphasized.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyanmbi could not be reached for comment.