OAUS Condemns the systematic arbitrary persecution and arrest of its members

STATEMENT - Tichaona Danho, the Occupy Africa Unity Square (OAUS) member who was one of the two who accompanied Itai Dzamara when he first handed in the original petition on 17th October 2014 was called in to answer questions about an alleged threat towards a police officer. Mr Danho reported to Harare Central Police Station on Wednesday 22 July 2015 as instructed in company of Advocate Kwaramba from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). He was kept in custody over night and released the next day.

Another OAUS member Charles Nyoni was arrested by the Zimbabwe police on Friday 14 July 2015 afternoon. Charles Nyoni, CRISIS in Zimbabwe Coalition Information Officer, Edgar Gweshe and another unnamed activist were detained by the Zimbabwe Prison Services at Harare Remand Prison. The three were part of a group of over 50 Civil Society members who had gone to Harare Remand Prison on a solidarity visit for arrested National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) leaders and vendors.  Charles was released on bail the next day.

Dirk Frey, the deputy chairperson of OAUS was taken by police on Saturday 25 July 2015 for questioning and is still in custody.

OAUS condemns the continued blitz against its members and leaders of other civic societies. OAUS is urging the government of Zimbabwe to focus attention and redirect their resources to the deteriorating economy of Zimbabwe. The government should not attempt to draw away people's attention from the houses that are being demolished on another wave of Murambatsvina 2. The government has failed to provide the 2.5 million jobs it promised us and our jobless youths are finding life meaningless as they aimlessly roam the streets of Zimbabwe.
 
Employees are getting fired from work without adequate notice; instead the government is busy persecuting peaceful human rights defenders. We have been reduced to a nation of vendors and beggars. There are more demanding matters of the state than the systematic and brutal persecution of peaceful civil protestors.

OAUS would like to reiterate the call made by the Civil Society of Zimbabwe which demands and call upon;

1. The Government of Zimbabwe to immediately release the civil society leaders and activists.

2. The Government of Zimbabwe to desist from intimidating, harassing and interfering of legitimate operations of civil society in Zimbabwe.

3. The ZPCS and ZRP to exercise professionalism and carry out their duties in non-partisan manner with due diligence and stop harassing and intimidating human rights defenders.

4. The Government of Zimbabwe should create an enabling environment for CSOs in accordance with the Zimbabwean Constitution and the various regional and international norms which Zimbabwe has signed which protects fundamental rights of human rights defenders to exist and be protected by law, to organize associate and carry out peaceful and legitimate activities.

5. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to condemn this act of repression and demand, from the current Chair, guarantees for Zimbabwean CSOs to operate freely.

OAUS would like to stand shoulder to shoulder with all Civic Societies whose leaders and members are being persecuted day and night.

OAUS would like to remind the government of Zimbabwe that under The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

 - Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

 - Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

 - Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

 - Article 9: No one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

 - Article 10: Everyone is entitled in full equality and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him or her.

 - Article 12: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

 - Article 13:  Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

 - Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers

 - Article 20: (i) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (ii) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

The above Human Rights Declaration, together with our 10 Golden Rules; which promotes non-violent protest is our flagship and we have the right to uphold them. Our leader, Itai Dzamara, as a citizen of Zimbabwe, had the right to exercise the above rights. We therefore call upon the government of Zimbabwe to pragmatically assist and facilitate the safe return of Itai Dzamara. We also call upon the government of Zimbabwe to stop the persecution, intimidation of our members and the immediate release of all detained civic society leaders.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE. WE ARE THE NUMBERS. LET'S GO!

Occupy Africa Unity Square.