Amnesty International researchers just returning from Zimbabwe said that the government continues to beat and torture human rights defenders and political opponents, despite the ongoing mediation process being facilitated by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

The organization has identified specific police units responsible for most of the human rights violations.

"Organised police violence and torture has continued during the SADC mediation -- in fact, the severity of beatings and torture has been increasing," said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s researcher on Zimbabwe.

"We have collected evidence from a wide range of sources, including victims, doctors and lawyers, showing how some units -- particularly the Law and Order Section -- within the Zimbabwean police enjoy total impunity for human rights violations perpetrated against government critics."

Amnesty International found that the Zimbabwean police continue to use excessive force and torture to suppress freedom of association and assembly by human rights defenders and by members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"Police stop small demonstrations by just scores of human rights defenders," said Mawanza. "Once in police custody, human rights defenders and MDC members are severely assaulted and denied access to lawyers, food and medical care."

On 22 November, at least 22 NCA members were rounded up by unidentified people and bundled into two minibuses in Harare’s central business district area. They were reportedly taken to the ruling ZANU-PF’s Harare province offices where they were beaten on the soles of their feet with sticks and iron bars. They were later ordered to mop the floor of the room and a toilet with bare hands. The perpetrators allegedly called the police and the victims were taken to Harare Central police station, where police charged them with "obstruction" and they were made to pay fines. None of the perpetrators was arrested. Ten of the victims were later hospitalised.

On 25 July, at least 200 activists from the non-governmental organisation the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) were arrested by police in Harare after participating in a peaceful march. The activists were taken to Harare Central police station, where many were severely assaulted by police and unidentified people in plain clothes for about six hours. They were then released without charge. At least 32 of the activists were later hospitalised -- 14 had fractured limbs. Among the injured was a 19-month-old baby, who had been assaulted by police with a baton stick.

"The current SADC mediation process must prioritize human rights concerns," said Mawanza.  "SADC leaders should demand that the government takes immediate steps to ensure respect for human rights by the Zimbabwean police, including in particular the Law and Order Section. There must be no impunity for those responsible for human rights violations."

Background information
Human rights violations in Zimbabwe are taking place against a background of a fast shrinking economy.  At the end of October, inflation was officially at 14,000%.  Most basic goods -- including maize, the staple diet -- are in short supply. The prices of basic goods are beyond the reach of ordinary households. Most families cannot afford food, education and health care. The World Food Programme estimates that 4 million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid.

The current mediation process being facilitated by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) is the only international process trying to break the political impasse in Zimbabwe.