The Centre for Applied Non-Violent Action and Strategies
(CANVAS) firmly condemns the illegal arrest of seven (7) Zimbabwean civil
society activists on their way home from attending a training workshop
organized by CANVAS in the Maldives from May 15 to 19, 2019.
All of them have been denied bail so far. Six are remanded
in person. The seventh person has serious health issues – she is remanded in a
public hospital and denied the right to seek treatment in her preferred private
clinic.
Their names are
George Makoni, Nyasha Frank Mpahlo, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura,
Farirai Gumbonzvanda, Stabile Dewa, and Rita Nyampinga. During the workshop,
the State-controlled newspaper, The Herald, published an article that falsely
accused participants of plotting to unleash violence in Zimbabwe in a bid to
overthrow the Government.
CANVAS would like to inform Zimbabweans and the
international community that the charges against these activists are blatantly
false. The charges include: “subversion”, “counterintelligence”, and “being
trained in use of small arms”. The activists could face up to twenty years in
prison for these charges. The workshop focused on advocacy and civic engagement
capacity building such as: Developing Shared Vision of Tomorrow; Civic
Engagement; Effective Communications; Protecting Privacy and Security; and
Organizational Planning.
For a decade and a half, CANVAS’ mission has been focused
on the fact that nonviolence is morally and ethically superior to violence, and
more likely to produce constructive outcomes and build strong and stable
societies.
The arrests clearly violate provisions of the Zimbabwean
Constitution on freedom of assembly and expression, and the African Charter on
Human and People’s Rights. Basic universal principles of due process, the
presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and conducting an unbiased
investigation before arrest need to be upheld.
As long as the Government continues to violate the
fundamental rights the constitution confers to Zimbabweans, it will not be seen
by citizens and the international community as democratic or law abiding.
CANVAS calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately
and unconditionally release the seven (7) activists and follow the rule of law.
Participation in a workshop with a focus on peacebuilding
and nonviolence should never be considered a crime, as the practice of
nonviolence and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights.
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