Amnesty International Claims Mnangagwa Is Losing Authority To Securocrats

Amnesty International has condemned President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his failure to reign in the military since he came into office on the back of a military coup in November 2017.

In its report titled “Open for business but closed for dissent”, the organisation said that Mnangagwa’s response to the brutal military crackdown has been muted. The report reads in part:

President Mnangagwa’s tenure has been plagued by a cloud of fear arising from the actions of the security forces and factionalism within the Zanu PF raising questions about dual centres of power resulting in contradictory messaging from the government and ultimately paralysis in addressing gross human rights violations.

The fear is compounded by the increasing influence of the military. Growing signs of the army’s influence are also evident with the muted or compliant response by President Mnangagwa and his advisors to the army’s repressive response to public protests.

Security forces have been accused of gross human rights violations when dealing with protestors both on August 1, 2018, and in January 2019. More than 20 people were allegedly shot dead ye the military has consistently rejected complicity in the extrajudicial killings.

More: NewZimbabwe.com