Rights lawyers condemn torture of innocent citizens by state

As Zimbabwe joined the world in celebrating International Day in support for victims of torture. the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have condemned the torture of innocent citizens in Zimabwe by the state institutions like the police and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

"ON International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) joins the rest of the world in condemning the continued systematic and widespread use of torture on innocent citizens and stands in solidarity with all victims of this heinous crime," said ZLHR.

"Commemorated on 26 June 2015 under the theme "Right to Rehabilitation (R2R)", the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture gives us the opportunity to stand united and remind the world that torture is a grave violation of fundamental human rights." ZLHR said as the theme suggests, it is imperative to ensure that many torture survivors have access to the rehabilitation they deserve and have a right to.

"ZLHR has noted that Zimbabwe's new Constitution adopted in May 2013 contains some progressive provisions particularly section 53 that guarantees freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and section 51 on the right to human dignity. However, it is regrettable, that citizens and human rights defenders continue to be subjected to flagrant violations of their fundamental rights by State and non-State actors. Arbitrary arrest, torture, abduction and detention of human rights defenders remain common," said ZLHR.

"More disconcerting is that Zimbabwe is marking United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, which is an important day on the human rights calendar at a time when one of its citizens, Itai Dzamara, a pro-democracy activist and freelance journalist is missing after he was disappeared by some unidentified people in on 09 March 2015.

So traumatising is the painful reality that the government and all the powerful State security organs cannot account for the whereabouts of Dzamara, almost four months after he was disappeared."

The organisation said the situation of Dzamara is not only disheartening, but shocking as he remains unaccounted for, more than 100 days after he was disappeared.

"Perpetrators of torture must understand that abduction and torture are an outdated, inhumane, and ultimately ineffective practice that ruins the lives of innocent people," said ZLHR.

"Despite the gloom situation of the continued use of torture and enforced disappearances, ZLHR is encouraged by the results of its anti-impunity campaign which has in recent months led to judicial officers awarding damages to victims of torture with perpetrators complying with such judgments."

ZLHR said as an organization committed to foster a culture of human rights in Zimbabwe, ZLHR will continue confronting perpetrators of torture through litigation to end this barbaric practice.

"In conclusion, ZLHR urges the government to ratify, domesticate and implement provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Protocol and the United Nations Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances," said ZLHR.