ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM
POLITICAL VIOLENCE REPORT
October 2007
29 November 2007
October 2007 saw a marked increase in the number of human rights violations particularly on groups such as Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and students from higher and tertiary education institutions. This report documents a total of 254 cases of unlawful arrests and detention with a total of 216 members of WOZA being arrested in Harare and Bulawayo for protesting against state - sponsored violence as well as the shortage of basic goods and commodities on the formal market. Furthermore, 30 NCA members were assaulted for demonstrating against the provisions in Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 18.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) supports the right of people to peacefully demonstrate or hold meetings protesting against certain aspects of governance in the country as long as the demonstrations or meetings do not turn violent, obstruct traffic, become a public nuisance or cause anything that will disturb peace and security in the country. The notion apparently held by some members of the ZRP that they should give opposition political parties, civil society organisations and the general public permission to hold a meeting is false at law. Groups who want to hold such meetings are only required to give notice to the police 4 days in advance of the meeting, not seek their permission as such.
The intimidation and harassment of students in higher and tertiary education institutions continued unabated with the latest violence occurring at the Masvingo Polytechnic. One of the arrested students, Stewart Munyanyi, was beaten on the ear with a baton stick by a police officer resulting in his suffering a damaged eardrum. The Forum calls on the state to investigate the increasing physical assaults on students by law enforcement agents. This is an alarming trend.
Two years after the infamous Operation Murambatsvina was unleashed by the GoZ on its own people, hordes of people continue to live in squalor and desperation despite the government’s promises and efforts to provide more housing under Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle. In one of Harare’s leafy suburbs, some victims of Operation Murambatsvina, who have failed to find alternate accommodation, had their illegal shacks and abodes razed to the ground by members of the ZRP in a bid to remove them from the area. The legality of the eviction by the police is not in contention but The Forum reiterates the requirement for the authorities to notify people in advance of intended evictions, to make more vigorous efforts to address the acute housing shortage in the country and to apply more humanity to the plight of homeless people.
Totals: 1 October – 31 October 2007
Cumulative Totals: 1 January – 31 October 2007
NB We regret that there was a typographical error on the graph depicting the cumulative total number of assaults as of September 2007. The correct figure is 776 and not 976 as reported in the graph in the September Report.
The graph should be read along with the table depicting the monthly totals of violations for October 2007 on page 12.
Key Abbreviations
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AIPPA – Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act CIO – Central Intelligence Organisation |
WOZA - WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE ZANU PF – Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front |
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MDC – Movement for Democratic Change |
ZCTU – Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions |
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MP – Member of Parliament |
ZNA – Zimbabwe National Army |
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NAGG - National Alliance for Good Governance |
ZPS – Zimbabwe Prison Service |
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NCA – National Constitutional Assembly Association |
ZRP – Zimbabwe Republic Police |
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OVT – Organised Violence and Torture |
ZNLWVA – Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association |
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POSA – Public Order and Security Act |
ZIMTA – Zimbabwe Teachers Association |
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PTUZ – Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe |
ZUPCO – Zimbabwe United Passenger Company |
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UMP – Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe |
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Sources: The information contained in this report is derived from statements made to the Public Interest Unit of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum, its members and statements taken by a network of human rights activists and newspaper reports,
Torture:
All cases of torture fall under the definition of torture according to the general definition given in the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment.
The four elements of torture are:
Severe pain and suffering, whether physical or mental
Intentionally inflicted
With a purpose
By a state official or another individual acting with the acquiescence of the state.
Those individuals referred to in point # 4 as state officials include the ZRP, ZNA,
Unlawful arrest and detention:
Arrest by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with no reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed. Detention thereafter for a period exceeding 48 hours without access to redress through the courts or subsequent release without charge.
Abduction/kidnapping:
A kidnapping by a member(s) of an organised group that is not the ZRP, ZNLWVA, ZNA, ZPS and the ZNLWVA (as a reserve force of the ZNA).
Disappearance:
Kidnapped persons whose whereabouts remained unknown at the time of reporting.
Property related
These are incidents in which property rights have been violated. This includes arson, property damage and destruction and theft.
Cases of Political Violence
Note: The identities of victims whose names have not been published in the press and are not public officials are protected. This is done in order to protect the victim from further violence, intimidation and possible recriminatory attacks.
The purpose of this report is to record the nature of the politically motivated violence and intimidation that continues to prevail in the country. The Monthly Political Violence Reports are primarily based on victims’ accounts, accompanied by medical evidence where possible, obtained from member organisations of the Forum and other partner organisations. Use is also made of press reports.
The Report cannot be considered as the exhaustive record of all incidents of politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe in the period under review. Nevertheless, every incident reported to the Human Rights Forum directly or through its members is meticulously documented and included in the reports. Care is also taken to record the incidents in the language in which they were reported to the Forum.
The situation prevailing in the country is such that it has not been possible to verify all of these accounts. The Forum has done what it can to verify the reports, and is satisfied that the vast majority of them are substantially true. It is also not possible to rule out whether a victim’s account is exaggerated or contains inaccuracies.
All reports derived from the press are denoted with the symbol ∑.
BULAWAYO
Bulawayo East
1 October 2007
158 members of WOZA were arrested in Bulawayo for carrying out a peaceful demonstration in protest against the deteriorating economic and political situation in the country. WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were amongst the group comprising 31 men and 127 women who were detained by the police at the Police Licensing Inspectorate offices housed at Southampton House. The suspected CIO operatives allegedly warned Williams that they would be monitoring her movements closely. The activists were released that same afternoon without charge.
Zimonline 15 October 2007
15 October2007
∑.Police in Bulawayo reportedly stopped the staging of a theatrical satire entitled "Overthrown" and ordered the closure of Amakhosi Arts Theatre. The police reportedly ordered more than 100 artists and guests who had come to watch the play to disperse from the theatre. The staging of the play was reportedly stopped on the same day President Mugabe was due to visit Bulawayo for the NUST graduation ceremony. "Overthrown", written by Stanley Makuwe and produced and directed by playwright Cont Mhlanga, reportedly reflects the deepening political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. The police allegedly stopped the staging of the play on the basis that it had the potential of embarrassing the President on his visit to Bulawayo
Harare
Harare Central
15 October 2007
58 members of WOZA were arrested as they attempted to march to Parliament to protest against the increase in state-sponsored violence and massive shortages of basic commodities. The WOZA members reportedly marched down peacefully from First Street and then proceeded to Parliament where the police dispersed them and confiscated all the banners that carried the groups’ messages. Moreover, there are fears that the police might also have arrested some passers - by as they were allegedly seen pulling a man from his car and arrested him.
Harare Central
16 October 2007
34 members of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) were reportedly assaulted and injured by the police for attempting to march to Parliament to protest against the proposed enactment of Constitutional Amendment No. 18. The police pounced on the NCA demonstrators, beating up and injuring 31, 3 of them seriously. The protesters were reportedly made to sit on the pavement near Herald House and assaulted, while others were beaten while trying to flee from the police. Two male protesters report that they were arrested and detained at Harare Central Police Station for more than 4 hours. One of the arrested victims reports that he was tortured and interrogated while in custody.
Harare North
19 October 2007
Members of the ZRP forcefully evicted and reportedly set fire to the property of four families residing in an illegal settlement in Borrowdale. The victims report that they were sleeping at around midnight when they heard noises around the camp. On inspection the victims report that they saw police officers beating up residents of the settlement, accusing them of being thieves and burning their makeshift homes. One of the victims reports that he was assaulted on the buttocks with a button stick by a police officer while trying to flee. Some of the victims apparently managed to flee from the police and went into hiding. When they returned to the settlement they found their household properties and makeshift houses razed to the ground.
Masvingo
Masvingo Central
15 October 2007
11 students from the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and Masvingo Polytechnic were arrested at Masvingo Polytechnic during a meeting organised by the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) at Masvingo Polytechnic. The police disrupted the meeting leading to unrest and spates of violence on the campus. The meeting was part of the Free Edson Hlatshwayo Campaign organized by ZINASU. The arrested students who were detained at Rujeko Police Station were:
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Muchipisi Aaron (GZU) |
Robert Matsamba (GZU), |
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Mucheki Toverengwa (GZU), |
Muzenda (GZU), |
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Ben Mhlanga (GZU), |
Tove (GZU), |
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Munyaradzi Chitsike (Masvingo Poly), |
Clophas Zhoya, (Masvingo Poly), |
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Stuart (Masvingo Poly), |
Gonde (Masvingo Poly). |
The eleventh student was unidentified as he was briefly detained on campus and later released. One of the students, Stewart Munyanyi, was released on arrival at the police station due to excessive bleeding from one of his ears after having been beaten with a baton stick by a police officer during the melee.
ZimOnline 19 October 2007
Masvingo Central
17 October 2007
∑.20 women from the Morgan Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction were reportedly arrested on allegations that they were holding an illegal meeting at a hotel in Masvingo. Armed riot police allegedly stormed the hotel, and reportedly bundled the women into trucks and took them to Masvingo Central Police Station but later released them without charge after four hours of interrogation. Among the arrested were Theresa Makone and former legislator Evelyn Masaiti.
ZimOnline 19 October 2007
MIDLANDS
Gweru Urban
9 October 2007
Mcdonald Lewanika (Coordinator: Students Solidarity Trust and Spokesperson: Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition), Jabusile Shumba (Programmes Manager: Combined Harare Residents Association), Dewa Mavhinga (Deputy Coordinator: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum International Liaison Office, London), Tendai Chabvuta (Head of Research: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum), and Moreblesssing Mudzingwa (a law student at the University of Zimbabwe) were arrested by 3 visibly drunk members of the CIO at Fairmile Hotel after conducting a workshop on human rights monitoring and academic rights for higher and tertiary education students in institutions located in Gweru. The group was detained for close to four hours at Gweru Central Police Station Law and Order Section before being released without charge. The CIO officers intimidated the victims with a heavy iron bar and also produced WOZA and MDC banners which they said could be used against them in court if they did not cooperate with them. The group was instructed to report back to the same arresting officers on the following day. On return they were told to leave Gweru and never to return again. Apparently there had been a solidarity march by members of the ZNLWVA in support of President Mugabe’s candidature for the 2008 Presidential elections. The CIO officers appear to have misconstrued the purpose of the Student Solidarity Trust meeting as being a gathering of MDC youths protesting against the war veterans solidarity march.
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MAIN EVENTS 2007 |
January |
State security agents allegedly go on a rampage assaulting, torturing and shooting at illegal diamond miners near Marange in Manicaland. The ZRP anti - riot squad violently disrupts a demonstration of close to 500 NCA members. 8 Christian Alliance members are arrested and harassed by members of the ZRP at the launch of the Christian Alliance Kadoma Chapter. Arnold Tsunga (Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Acting Secretary of the Law Society of Zimbabwe) is arrested and interrogated by CIO operatives at the Harare International Airport on his return from the World Social Forum in Kenya.
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February |
Police impose a ban on “political gatherings” Students, WOZA, NCA and the MDC hold a number of demonstrations separately against tertiary fee hikes, for “love” and against violence; for a new Constitution and for elections to be held in 2008 rather than 2010 respectively Raymond Majongwe and other PTUZ leaders are arrested as teachers protest against their low salaries. Suspected MDC supporters allegedly assault police at Ximex Mall in Harare and angry vendors assault Municipal Police Officers. St Mary’s (Harare) widows and elderly women are assaulted by the police as they demonstrate against high rentals and high water bills. The MDC attempts to hold a star rally in Highfield at Zimbabwe Grounds on 18 February 2007 but the rally is dispersed by police. |
March |
Save Zimbabwe Campaign attempts to hold a prayer meeting on 11 March in Highfield. The riot police, using brute force on civic leaders and others who intended to participate, thwart the meeting. Gift Tandare dies after being shot by the police on 11 March at the aborted prayer meeting in Highfield Following the violence on 11 March, widespread assaults and abductions ensue mainly perpetrated against human rights defenders, MDC supporters and leadership, reportedly by state security agents. Officers from the CID raid ZCTU offices on 13 March ahead of a planned stay away. Nelson Chamisa, MDC MP for Kuwadzana, is severely assaulted at the Harare International Airport on his way to attend a meeting of the ACP – EU in Brussels A memorial service for Gift Tandare is held on 27 March in Borrowdale. Last Maengahama, Deputy Secretary for Local Government in the Tsvangirai led faction of the MDC, is abducted in Borrowdale and dumped in Mutorashanga by suspected state agents after attending a memorial service for Gift Tandare on 27 March. Police cordon off much of the central business district of Harare as they conduct a raid at the MDC headquarters on 28 March. 80 people, including senior MDC officials, are arrested during the raid. |
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April |
82 WOZA members are arrested for protesting against incessant power cuts by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority in Bulawayo’s High Density suburbs. Levison Chikafu, a Prosecutor in Mutare, is detained for six hours at Mutare Central Police Station. He is questioned over his alleged acceptance of a bribe from a jailed murderer and granting bail to undeserving suspects. It is suspected that he was being victimised for prosecuting the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Two National University of Science and Technology (NUST) students, Trust Nhubu and Valencio Jachi, are reportedly abducted and tortured by suspected CIO operatives in Bulawayo on 19 April. The Chivi North legislator and the former Masvingo Governor, Josiah Hungwe as well as other ZANU PF members, are reportedly injured following a skirmish between the two ZANU PF factions that were contesting in the ZANU PF Masvingo Provincial Elections.
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May |
Alec Muchadehama and Andrew Makoni (lawyers) are arrested by the police and held in detention being denied access to lawyers, food and families. Jonathan Samkange (a lawyer) is arrested by the police for allegedly having connived with a witness in a case he is handling. Scores of students at the University of Zimbabwe are arrested, assaulted and brutalised by the University’s security agents and the police. The police disperse students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo. Members of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, gathered outside the High Court in Harare to proceed to the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with a petition protesting the arrest of two of their colleagues, are dispersed by the police and some assaulted with baton sticks. Later, their President, Beatrice Mtetwa and four others are savagely assaulted by the police in a field near the city. |
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June |
MDC activists who had been incarcerated for almost 72 days are released on free bail on 7 June Arthur Mutambara, the leader of the pro-senate MDC faction’s passport is taken away by police. Bans on political rallies and gatherings are lifted in Harare on 29 June The world commemorates International Day Against Torture on 26 June 9 people are arrested and tortured in relation to an alleged foiled coup plot |
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July
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About 267 NCA activists are detained and arbitrarily beaten up country wide as they demonstrate against Constitutional Amendment (No 18) Bill on 25 July. Armed police officers assault and arrest students from the University of Zimbabwe following demonstrations against fees top up on 7 July. Furthermore, resident students are evicted from campus and sleep out of doors after they are left stranded. The University of Zimbabwe Vice – Chancellor, Levy Nyagura, suspends 26 students for allegedly inciting students to demonstrate and engaging in riotous behaviour. |
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August |
A 62 - member delegation of the Southern African Peoples' Solidarity Network (SAPSN) traveling to Lusaka, Zambia, for the SADC Peoples' Summit is turned back by the Zambian immigration authorities at the Chirundu Border Post. The Zambian authorities then hands over the Zimbabwean civil society activists to the Zimbabwean police who detain and harass 40 of the victims at Chirundu Police Post. Clever Bere, National University of Science and Technology Students Representative Council President is arrested and tortured at Bulawayo Central Police Station on 6 August Police reportedly round up close to 100 commuter omnibus drivers and their assitants in Harare on 29 August before assaulting them for defying a government directive to reduce fares On 6 August, it is alleged that members of the Zimbabwe National Army brutalise women and children in the high-density suburb of Dzivaresekwa in Harare for vending. More than 70 uniformed soldiers go on a rampage, assaulting villagers and looting goods in Esigodini, Matabeleland South on 8 August after some of their colleagaues had been involved in a scuffle during a drunken brawl in the village. A journalist from the Standard News Papers, is reportedly abducted and held captive by suspected ZANU PF supporters in Gutu, Masvingo on suscipions of spying for the US based Studio 7 news station. It is alleged that armed police and CIO Officers bar members of the MDC who want to attend the memorial service of the late MDC National Chairperson, Isaac Matongo, on 11 August in Masvingo. |
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September |
Police arrest 11 Members of Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR Zim) in Harare on 14 September.
ZCTU organises a stay - away on 19 and 20 September. The stay - away protested the Presidential Proclamation on salary and wage freezes.
The NGO Expo is held from 19 – 22 September. Memory Kadau, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition intern, is arrested whilst manning the organization’s stand at the Expo.
MDC holds its 8th year Anniversary celebrations in Masvingo on 28 September. Masvingo residents are assaulted by ZANU PF supporters prior to the celebrations.
The wife of Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Tecla Mumbengegwi, allegedly takes part in the assault and resultant murder of a villager accused of stealing from the Minister’s farm. |
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October |
Police arrest 158 members of WOZA in Bulawayo for protesting against the deteriorating political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe, on 11 October. Police in Harare arrest 200 members of WOZA for carrying out a peaceful demonstration on 15 October. Police in Harare assault 34 NCA activists for demonstrating against the Constitutional Amendment No 18 on 16 October |
The table below and the graphs on page 3 above depict the number of violations committed on
the persons whose circumstances are described in the report. One individual may have been subjected to many violations and thus appear under several categories of violations.
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Total |
|
Abduction/ kidnapping |
0 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
|
Assault |
45 |
183 |
128 |
68 |
43 |
14 |
176 |
103 |
16 |
36 |
812 |
|
Attempted murder |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Death threats |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
|
Disappearance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Displacement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Freedom of expr/ass/mvt |
553 |
294 |
597 |
125 |
167 |
201 |
296 |
71 |
29 |
386 |
2719 |
|
Murder |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
Political Discrim/ intim/vict |
1 |
294 |
597 |
10 |
16 |
17 |
15 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
966 |
|
Property related |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
13 |
|
Rape |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
School closure |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Torture |
4 |
82 |
168 |
10 |
51 |
13 |
180 |
17 |
1 |
23 |
549 |
|
Unlawful arrest |
16 |
278 |
203 |
51 |
47 |
207 |
275 |
169 |
43 |
254 |
1543 |
|
Unlawful detention |
16 |
278 |
203 |
51 |
47 |
207 |
275 |
169 |
43 |
254 |
1543 |
|
Monthly Totals |
636 |
1411 |
1909 |
318 |
373 |
660 |
1219 |
547 |
140 |
965 |
8179 |
Administrative Map of ZIMBABWE
Zambia
Mozambique
Botswana
South Africa
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 to assist victims of organised violence and torture claim compensation from perpetrators through its Public Interest Unit.
Member organisations of the Human Rights Forum are:
Amnesty International (Zimbabwe) (AI (Z))
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT)
Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC)
Transparency International (Zimbabwe) (TI (Z))
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO)
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)
The Human Rights Forum can be contacted through any member organisation or through:
The Administrator, P O Box 9077, Harare – email: admin@hrforum.co.zw
The Public Interest Unit, P O Box 9077, Harare – email: legal@hrforum.co.zw
The Research Unit, P O Box 9077, Harare – email: research@hrforum.co.zw
Address: 8th Floor Bluebridge North, Eastgate, Harare; Telephone: 250511 - Fax: 250494
The International Liaison Office, 56- 64 Leonard Street London EC 2A 4JX– email: IntLO@hrforumzim.com
Telephone+44-20-7065-0945
Website: www.hrforumzim.com