Zimbabwe: Government Told to Rein in FAZ as Zimbabwe Marks International Day of Peace

21 September 2023
New Zimbabwe (London)

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has called on the government to immediately shut down the operations of Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) as the Zanu PF affiliate continues to discharge a reign of terror in communities.

In a statement commemorating the United Nations International Day of Peace (IDP), ZHR NGO Forum said

Zimbabwe recently concluded its general elections which were condemned by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and Election Observer Missions (EOMs).

According to the election observer missions, the elections were held under a restrictive political environment that was characterized by violence, arbitrary arrests and lawfare.

As part of recommendations to create a peaceful environment after elections, the Forum said the government should stop targeting, persecution and attacks on civilians, civil society members and political opponents in the post-election phase.

"The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) should urgently release investigation findings of all OVT-related incidents, and names of identified perpetrators of police brutality against civilians.

"The government should open up civic and democratic space to facilitate the active demand for the freedoms of assembly and expression.

"The government should immediately shut down the operations of FAZ as it continues to discharge a reign of terror in communities," ZHR NGO Forum recommended.

According to the Forum, the pre and post-election periods contradict the tenets of IDP.

"There is consensus around common findings including a restricted pre-election political environment characterised by limitations to assembly and expression.

"Lawfare towards civic society organizations (CSOs) and political opponents, covert violence in the form of voter intimidation at the behest of the FAZ.

"Arbitrary arrests of members of CSOs, human rights defenders, lawyers, police brutality and unwarranted use of force, arson, harassment, intimidation, abductions, arbitrary arrests and attacks against polling agents.

"These developments are in contradiction with the tenets of the International Day of Peace to eradicate all forms of violence, including covert violence which was rife during the 2023 Harmonised Election cycle," said ZHR NGO Forum.

Read the original article on New Zimbabwe.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 New Zimbabwe. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.