Human Rights Violation Continues

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch, Africa

While addressing a crowd in Harare during Zimbabwe’s National Heroes’ Day, President Robert Mugabe used the opportunity to blame Britain for the country’s failing economy. With an inflation rate past 5000 % and unemployment at 80 %, Mugabe accused the former colonial of conspiring with his opposition and undermining the country’s economy.

Mugabe also reiterated his warning to business owners against profiteering by raising prices. Thus far at least 7,500 business managers and shop owners have been arrested. In a desperate move to gain support, Mugabe has reverted to evicting white farmers, a strategy that won him the presidency. The government announced last week that white farmers who resist eviction of land targeted for blacks would be arrested.

Critics blame the violent eviction for the country’s food shortage and poor production. More than 4000 white farmers have lost their land and the remaining has had the size of their land reduced. Furthermore, the government has passed an amendment prohibiting former owners from challenging the eviction.

The Human Rights Forum, founded in 1988 when Mugabe sent troops to crush food riots, has documented 5,307 human rights violations. The violations include 328 cases of torture, 481 assaults by a governmental or military personal, 802 unlawful arrests and detention, and 1,937 violation of freedom of expression.

For more information please see:

Yahoo – Mugabe Rails Against Britian on Zimbabwe’s Heroes’ Day – 13 August 2007

Yahoo – Zimbabwe Rights Violations Rising-Report – 08 August 2007

Yahoo – Zimbabwe Threatens White Farmers on Evictions – 08 August 2007

Author: Impunity Watch Archive