Govt "SHOCKED" By US, Australia & EU Joint Statement On Respect For Human Rights

The Zimbabwe government has said that it is perturbed by the joint statement that was issued on Tuesday by the United States of America, Australia and the European Union which castigated alleged human rights abuses.

Posting on microblogging site, Twitter, the government, through the Ministry of Information said:

The Government of Zimbabwe received with dismay the joint local statement by Heads of Delegation from the West on human rights and freedom of assembly in Zimbabwe following the illegal demonstrations by sections of the Zimbabwean opposition on 16 August 2019.

The joint statement which the diplomatic missions in Zimbabwe had issued read:

JOINT LOCAL STATEMENT ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

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The Heads of Mission of the Delegation of the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom and the Heads of Mission of Australia, Canada and the United States of America issue the following statement in Zimbabwe:

Intimidation, harassment and physical attacks on human rights defenders, trade union and civil society representatives, and opposition politicians – Prior to, during and following the demonstration in Harare on 16 August – are cause for great concern.

The Zimbabwean Constitution guarantees the right to personal security from violence and prohibits physical or psychological torture. The Heads of Mission urge the authorities to respect these fundamental rights, and to hold perpetrators of violence legally responsible.

The Heads of Mission call on the authorities to respect the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression as well as to peaceful protest, and urge all political party leaders and supporters to abstain from threats and incitement to violence as well as acts of violence or vandalism. The security forces must adhere to their Constitutional mandate and exercise restraint and proportionality while maintaining public order.

Only by addressing concretely and rapidly these human rights violations will the Government of Zimbabwe give credibility to its commitments to address longstanding governance challenges. The Heads of Mission reiterate their calls for the implementation of the government’s political and economic reform agenda, underpinned by inclusive national dialogue and increased efforts to address the severe social situation.

More: Ministry of Information