Annual Report of the Human Rights Research Unit: 2003
June 2004
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (also known as the "Human Rights Forum") is a coalition comprising 17 member organisations. It has been in existence since January 1998 when non-governmental organisations working in the field of human rights joined together to provide legal and psychosocial assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January 1998. The Human Rights Forum has now expanded its objectives to assist victims of organised violence, using the following definition:
"Organised violence" means the inter-human infliction of significant avoidable pain and suffering by an organised group according to a declared or implied strategy and/or system of ideas and attitudes. It comprises any violent action, which is unacceptable by general human standards, and relates to the victims' mental and physical well-being.
The Human Rights Forum operates a Research and Documentation Unit and offers legal services through the Public Interest Unit of the Legal Resources Foundation (formerly the Legal Unit of the Human Rights Forum.) Core member organisations of the Human Rights Forum are:
Associate Members:
The Human Rights Forum can be contacted through any member organisation or through:
Previous reports of the Human Rights Forum can be found on this website.
Publications Produced by the HRRU
Throughout the year the Human Rights Research Unit (HRRU) endeavoured to pursue its objective of documenting, researching on and publishing reports on gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The task was carried out in an environment where the collection of information was impeded by inaccessibility by the organisation to victims and Government’s hostility to civil society’s efforts to fight for the recognition of human rights in the country.
The HRRU extensively documented politically motivated violence and organised violence and torture throughout the year. These types of human rights violations predominantly took place surrounding elections and civic action and demonstrations. Reports also came in of incidents not necessarily associated with these two situations. Inter-party violence was recorded at higher levels surrounding constituency by-elections held in March, August and November 2003 as well as Rural District and Urban Council elections held in August 2003. Torture by state agents was recorded at high levels in association with demonstrations, particularly in March, April and June 2003.
Perhaps the most determined onslaught on human rights in 2003 was that on the freedom of expression, association and assembly; rights guaranteed by sections 20 and 21 of the Zimbabwean Constitution. The curtailing of these rights was achieved through the use of the repressive Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11:17] (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10:27] (AIPPA).
The HRRU produced publications targeted at local and international audiences. Monthly Political Violence Reports consistently kept people updated on politically-motivated human rights violations and abuses throughout the year. The Monthly Political Violence Report is the only such source for this information in Zimbabwe. The HRRU also produced periodic publications and material was prepared specifically for lobbying and advocacy purposes.
The HRRU was unable to meet all of the targets set out for the year due to internal factors and external constraints. The HRRU operated below optimum staff levels for the first half of the year. A research assistant was recruited in June 2003 bringing the HRRU to a full complement of staff of a programme manager and two research assistants. The need for time to train the new staff member further affected the programming of the Unit.
Externally the environment was inconducive to research with organisations at times being reluctant to supply information resulting in either non-production or delayed production of reports. In addition, information received was partially representative as information gathering is centred in Harare without any effective system for documenting human rights violations occurring in Zimbabwe’s other 9 provinces, other than through member organisations and other associated NGOs.
The Unit continued to manage four separate databases as follows:
The following newspapers were also used as sources:
As previously stated, collection of data is centralised in Harare and therefore information received on human rights violations in other urban areas and all rural areas is limited. Sources of information need to be increased and partnerships forged with organisations outside of Harare. Lack of cooperation from the Zimbabwe Republic Police in verifying incidents has been a challenge to the Unit since 2002 and the situation remains much the same.
The HRRU provided statistics and information extracted from the databases upon request from member organisations, partner organisations and the diplomatic community.
This report, necessitated by the long-term presence of ‘political’ abuses of human rights in Zimbabwe, was a valuable source of information throughout the year. Twelve reports covering each month of the year were produced. The report was produced in electronic copy and distributed to a mailing list of over 60 local and regional civil society organisations, 40 diplomatic missions and donors and 218 individuals. This was achieved in each month with the report highlighting increased violence occurring around elections. The report is also distributed to over 400 international contacts through the International Liaison Office. This list includes decision makers, journalists and NGOs from all over the world except Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.
With effect from the December 2003, Monthly Political Violence Report, reports produced by the Human Rights Forum will now be sent to the Chairpersons of the 14 Parliamentary Portfolio Committees, the Speaker of Parliament, the Commissioner of Police and the Secretaries of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The reports for December have been sent out, accompanied by a letter signed by the Chairperson, Mr Albert Musarurwa. This is regarded as part of the process of engaging the Government of Zimbabwe in efforts to bring down levels of organised violence and torture.
The Monthly Political Violence Report has remained a reliable and valuable source of information to local and international civil society organisation, media, individuals, donors and the diplomatic community. It has indeed even been used to keep Governments informed. Electronic communication has been received from the UN Regional Headquarters in Pretoria to the effect that they have found the Monthly Political Violence Report beneficial. Statistics from these reports were also referred to by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in the House of Commons on 9 December 2003, in support of argument during a debate on Zimbabwe in relation to its withdrawal from the Commonwealth during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Human Rights Monthly was out of production for most of the year, largely due to staffing constraints. A single issue was produced covering the period of a year with a focus on the food crisis. This issue provided information on the right to food, origins of the food crisis in Zimbabwe and politicisation of food aid. 45 000 copies in English, Shona and Ndebele were produced. The quantities produced in each language were as follows: English - 27000, Shona – 11500, Ndebele – 6000. The Human Rights Monthly was distributed free of charge throughout the country via the Human Rights Forum’s member and partner organisations. The newsletter was also distributed through public libraries.
Two ad hoc reports were produced in 2003:
The reports were well received with commendation by local and international CSOs, the media, individuals and the donor and diplomatic communities.
The Human Rights Forum had a single stand at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) held from 29 July to 2 August 2003. Material displayed on the stand included flyers, Human Rights Monthlies and all previous reports by the Human Rights Forum. Flyers, publications and posters from coalition members that did not have a stand of their own at the Book Fair were also displayed and distributed. Material was also displayed and distributed on behalf of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition of which all members of the Human Rights Forum are in turn members.
Interest during traders’ days was encouraging as was the case on the public days. Overall it was a beneficial exercise, albeit there was insufficient man power to attend to the stand, due to two members of staff responsible for manning the stand falling ill on the days that had been designated for them to assist. As a result some material was ‘looted’ from the stand during the period in which it was unattended. It is anticipated that advance planning will result in participation at the Book Fair being more efficient in 2004 and for the stand to be more fully utilised as a tool for exposure, public awareness and information dissemination by the Human Rights Forum and member organisations that do not have their own stands at the Book Fair.
The Human Rights Forum attended both ACP-EU JPAs in 2003. The 5th Session of the JPA was held in Brazzaville, Congo from 31 March to 3 April 2003. The delegation from Harare was unable to travel to Brazzaville due to a misunderstanding with South African Airways regarding Congolese visas. However the HRRU produced a compilation entitled “The Alternative Perspective on Zimbabwe: A collection of briefing papers and statements by civil society on the situation in Zimbabwe”. The compilation was distributed to all parliamentarians attending the JPA and was used for lobbying purposes.
The 6th Session of the ACP-EU JPA was held in Rome, Italy from 11 to 15 October 2003. As with the previous session, the HRRU produced a briefing paper on the nature and origins of the crisis in Zimbabwe from civil society’s perspective. The compilation included a paper on transitional options for Zimbabwe, a collection of statements by civil society issued between April and October 2003, the Johannesburg Symposium Declaration and the Declaration of the African Civil Society Consultation on Zimbabwe. The compilation was entitled “The Zimbabwe Crisis – Facts and Differing Perspectives”. It was distributed to all ACP delegates that attended the fringe meeting hosted by the Human Rights Forum alongside the 6th Session of the JPA. Copies were also given to the co-Presidents of the JPA. This document informed the delegates of the situation in Zimbabwe from civil society’s perspective prior to the debate on Zimbabwe that was held during the 6th Session.
Tying Up Loose Ends
Human Rights Monthly
Monthly Political Violence Report
Special Report
Produce 2 special reports during the year:
Ad hoc Reports
Advocacy, Lobbying and Capacity Building
The HRRU will endeavour to be an influential information source for the region on the human rights situation in the country. Information recorded and published by the Unit should be used to lobby visiting regional delegations or any legitimate fact finding mission or investigative delegations. The HRRU must be able to present powerful, accurate information for use in advocacy and lobbying by representatives of civil society travelling to regional and international events.
7 June 2004,
Harare