By Lloyd Takawira
Human rights groups have called on the government to ratify the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
In a statement to mark the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture ,the rights groups (the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny, the National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) and the Forum) said no exceptional circumstances whatsoever should be invoked in justification of torture against any citizen by the state .
The rights groups also deplored the government of Zimbabwe’s reluctance to recognize the UN’s protocol.
“About 170 states in the world have ratified the UNCAT but sadly, Zimbabwe has the inglorious distinction of not having ratified the instrument.” reads the statement
The rights groups also spoke out against systematic human rights abuses that have characterized Zimbabwe.
“This year the international day in support of victims of torture comes at a time when State-sanctioned cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment is the order of the day in Zimbabwe.”
The statement also said that in the Zimbabwean context, the day serves as a reminder of the continuous persecution of citizens through systematic torture and lack of justice and accountability.
“Opposition party supporters, human rights defenders and dissenting voices are frequent victims of medieval physical and psychological torture technics. These torture technics include waterboarding, falanga, mutilation of genitals, and corrosive chemicals on sensitive parts of the body such as the eyes”
The statement said that the security forces are the biggest perpetrators of torture in Zimbabwe .
“Security forces, particularly the dreaded Ferret Squad, Central Intelligence Officers, Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, have been identified as the primary perpetrators of torture. The harrowing torture practices documented by civil society organisations and their motivation, point to a country in crisis and border on crimes against humanity”
The forum also documented over 500 cases of inhumane treatment perpetrated by the security forces .
“The Forum documented 531 cases of torture, including assault, dog bites and gunshots between 30 March 2020 and 30 October 2020”.
The rights groups called on the Zimbabwean government to follow the Constitution on the right to decent human treatment.
“The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) Act 2013 (the Constitution) prohibits
the use of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment under section 53 there are few to no positive strides in eradicating torture in practice.”
Over the years, there has been growing concerns over the alleged torturing of dissenting voices from the opposition, civil society .
