Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
Statement on The Amani Trust
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum is a network of human
rights organisations which came together in 1998 to co-ordinate the provision of
legal and psycho-social services to victims of organised violence and torture in
Zimbabwe. The Amani Trust is a member of the Human Rights Forum, which was
founded in 1998 and comprises 12 member organizations.
The other member ngos of the Human Rights Forum (listed at
the end of the statement) are gravely concerned at the continuing threats and
malicious allegations of impropriety being made against The Amani Trust – a
non-profit making, humanitarian organisation which exists to “rehabilitate
survivors of psycho-social trauma, particularly torture, repressive violence and
institutional violence”.
Along with all the other members of the Human Rights Forum,
The Amani Trust offers its services to all Zimbabweans, in good faith,
irrespective of their background and political persuasion.
Since 1995, The Amani Trust has provided vital and
unparalleled assistance to survivors of the Liberation War and Gukuruhundi.
The Amani Trust has provided medial and psychological assistance to the victims
of political violence and, since June 2001, social assistance to victims of
political violence by way of placement in safe houses for persons at serious
risk owing to the escalating violence.
Persons given refuge in the safe houses were required by
Amani Trust to abide by a code of conduct, which expressly forbids engaging in
any political activity.
These safe houses, where primary victims and their
immediate families have been sheltered, have been variously described as
“killer houses’ that house ‘terrorist elements” and fugitives from
justice as well as being used to conduct covert operations against the
government.
Amani Trust has also repeatedly been attacked by various
government ministers and the government media for illegally channeling foreign
funds to the MDC – which allegations we believe to be untrue. There have also
been recent unsubstantiated allegations of corruption within Amani Trust.
The Human Rights Forum reposes full trust in The Amani
Trust and will investigate specific and genuine allegations of misconduct or
corruption by any of its members. Concerned persons should make written
submissions to the Secretariat c/o P O Box CY 1393 Causeway.
The members of the Human Rights Forum rally behind Amani
Trust in its efforts to achieve its objectives of providing assistance and
rehabilitation to survivors of organised violence and torture and hope that the
laudable activities of the organisation are not furthered interfered with.
Political violence in Zimbabwe has claimed hundreds of
lives since 2000 and shows no signs of abating. Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans
have been internally displaced over the past year. Regrettably, there has been
no group or network other than the Human Rights NGO Forum ‑ including
government itself ‑ which has provided the victims of political violence
any tangible assistance.
Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ)
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJPZ)
Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ)
Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ZACRO)
Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)
23
January 2002
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