Focus on Communities - Heal Zimbabwe Trust
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Focus on Communities info@healzimbabwetrust.org
+263785699910
36 Arundel school road MT Pleasant, Harare.
www.healzimbabwetrust.org
Heal Zimbabwe Trust Issue 4 /2020
“Government must
impose strict measures at
quarantine centres”
Masvingo teachers college,one of the quarantine centres ( file photo)
Community members in Zaka, Bikita and Gutu have of masks is not being even observed. In most instances,
expressed concern over the laxity of security measures some people are bribing law enforcement agents to
at quarantine centres in Masvingo. The call comes after gain entry and access to some public places without any
reports that returnees from neighbouring countries such masks. As part of the way forward community members
as South and Botswana are escaping from quarantine resolved to engage local leaders such as Councillors,
centres in Masvingo. District Administrators and Legislators over the issue.
Community members also resolved to enure that they alert
This came out during Heal Zimbabwe Community Virtual the authorities in the event thattheir community continues
Information centre discussions with community members to rcord an increase in the number of returnee.Community
from Zaka, Bikita and Gutu. Community members noted members also rsolvo rem to report family members who are
that the spike in COVID 19 cases was also necessitated keeping returnees and assisting them to evade authorities.
by returnees hence the need for responsible authorities
to enforce strictness at these centres and limit their The call comes after police have announced that they are
movements. “We are worried that with limited security working closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care
at quarantine centres, some returnees are choosing to to ensure that people who have escaped from quarantine
escape to rural areas like Zaka to evade the authorities. centres are brought to book.
In our communities there are no screening mechanisms
for new people who come in. This presents a great risk of Communities also implored government to improve
contracting COVID 19 for ordinary community members service at quarantine centres .This comes after reports of
“said one local leader from Zaka. deplorable services offered at most quarantine centres.
Community members also expressed concern over reports The virtual Information centres by Heal Zimbabwe are
that some police officers manning roadblocks leading to an initiative meant to equip communities with relevant
Masvingo town are taking bribing and allowing easy access information on Covid 19, facilitate local level conversations
for people who have not been tested into rural areas. on pertinent issues affecting communities as well as create
Community members also highlighted that they have also socially cohesive communities.
recorded an increase in the number of returnees at most
business centres where even social distancing or wearing
www.healzimbabwetrust.org PAGE 1
COVID19 Cases
Continue To increase COVID 19 cases in the country have been shooting up since
27 May and over the past days it has been a case of double
digits with 282 officially recorded cases and four deaths. As at
07 June 2020, Zimbabwe had 282 confirmed cases, including
34 recoveries and four (4) deaths.
The new cases have been confirmed mostly in quarantine
centers among returnees mainly coming from South Africa, Mozambique and
Botswana. Zimbabwe reported its first COVID-19 case on March 21 from a male
resident of Victoria Falls who traveled back from the UK via South Africa on 15
March, following a second case of Journalist Zororo Makamba who succumbed
to the virus and became the first death case.
As part of measures to contain the spread of the virus, President Emmerson
Mnangagwa declared a state of national disaster and banned all public
gatherings of more than 100 people for 60 days. Some of the banned gatherings
include church services, weddings and all international sporting fixtures.
The government also ordered the closure of schools and designated three
hospitals as quarantine facilities for COVID-19.To intensify measures of
containing the virus, President Mnangagwa declared a 21‐day lockdown from
March 30 restricting movement within the country, suspended flights in and
out of Zimbabwe. Many people anticipated lockdown to end after 21 days, but
Source:Ministry of Health President Mnangagwa made an extension twice ending two more weeks.
Further tightening the screws of measures, on May 16, he extended the
country’s lockdown for an indefinite period. “Zimbabwe will, therefore, continue
on the Level 2 lockdown for an indefinite period. We shall have regular two-
week interval reviews to assess progress or lack of it,” he said. Following the
indefinite lockdown directive, the country went on 10 days without confirmed
cases, on 27 May, 76 new cases were recorded and since then cases have been
on a spike, raising concerns in the country. Health experts in the country have
raised alarms on disregarding lockdown measures as the number of people
carrying out day to day in Harare city have increased as this can result in further
increase of cases.
Adv Mpofu, Sithole arrest shows worsening
political repression
The recent crackdown on the main opposition MDC Alliance and Sithole as unfortunate events which are aimed at
linked personalities by the police has been described as destroying a strong force in the country.
a sign of worsening political crisis and a choreographed
move to silence democratic voices who have stood to “This could be a way of suppressing democratic voices
challenge the regime. because Mpofu is the lawyer of a certain political party
that has given Zanu PF hard times and Sithole is the
MDC Alliance youth leader, Obey Sithole and Advocate leader of the MDC Alliance youth wing. Generally,
Thabani Mpofu who was the lead counsel of the MDC when you want to suppress or crush a stronger force
Alliance legal team which was challenging the outcome you have got to target the lead and I believe this is why
of the 2018 disputed election was recently arrested for these people are being targeted,” he said.
what the civic society has described as the silencing of
democratic voices. Mandikwaza also added that they were not condoning
crime but believes there was a need to be cautious with the
Heal Zimbabwe Trust Programs Manager, Edknowledge two because the charges could have been exaggerated to
Mandikwaza described police crackdown on Mpofu paint the wrong picture force behind the arrest of the two
www.healzimbabwetrust.org PAGE 2
and many other critics of the regime. that without an independent mechanism for receiving
“Whatever the accusations that could be there may need and investigating complaints from the public on the
to be treated with caveat or venial because you would misconduct on the part of members of security services,
think they are people who have committed more constitutional provisions such as Section 206 that compel
heinous crimes than what they could have done. It’s not security services to respect fundamental rights .
necessarily condoning criminality but
the vindictiveness which comes with File pic ,Source:UN news
that arrest is what you would need to
reflect on,” he added.
Advocate Mpofu who was recently released on a ZW$20
000 bail is facing three counts of drafting an affidavit in the
name of a non-existent Simbarashe Zuze, obstructing the
course of justice and corruptly concealing a transaction
from a principal as alleged by the state.
Sithole is being accused of fronting a demonstration on
May 13, in the high-density suburb of Warren Park where
people were demonstrating over hunger and lockdown
which has affected mostly informal traders who constitute
a larger percentage of the country’s population. Police violently arresting MDC Alliance leader,Lovemore
Chinoputsa (pic credit:Munashe Adrian)
The protests saw the arrest of three MDC Alliance activists,
Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and
Netsai Marova who are both out on ZW$1000 bail.
Zimbabwe’s political landscape has witnessed a major
effort by the regime to subdue alternative voices which are
challenging the malpractices of the current government
led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Since the
lockdown, Heal Zimbabwe has recorded gross human
rights violations in which law enforcements agents have
used violence against unarmed civilians.
In light of this, Heal Zimbabwe implores government to
ensure and guarantee judiciary independence so as to earn
trust of citizens. Added to this, government must put in place MDC Alliance Youth leader,Obey Sithole arrives at court
an Independent Complaints Mechanism as demanded by
section 210 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. This is long
overdue. It will help inculcate a culture of human rights
protection in the members of the security services.
In 2016,Heal Zimbabwe took the Minister of Justice, Legal
and Parliamentary Affairs to the Constitutional Court
over delays in providing an effective and independent
mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from
members of the public about the misconduct of members
of the security services in compliance with Section 210
of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Even though judgment
was reserved for this case, it is Heal Zimbabwe’s view
Advocate ,Tabani Mpofu with his lawyers
www.healzimbabwetrust.org PAGE 3
”State must stop meddling in
MDC internal party squabbles “
Members of the security services mount a barricade outside Harvest house (Pic credit:263Chat)
Analysts have described the interference by the state in the MDC T party internal squabbles as a ploy to mutilate opposition
parties .In a democracy, opposition political parties perform several important functions. Some of these functions include
aggregating the interests of the political community, promoting responsible and reasoned debate in platforms such as
parliament and pushing democratic discussions to a higher level of political development and maturity.
The latest incident of state meddling in internal party affairs of opposition parties is the seizure of the MDC T party
headquarters by a rival faction with the aid and assistance of members of the security services. This latest incident came
days after senior MDC Alliance leaders were arrested at the party’s headquarters.
The arrests of MDC Alliance has seen the international community expressing concern over the use of the security forces to
aid and meddle in internal party squabbles. Posting on micro blogging site, Twitter, United States Embassy, remarked, “We
are dismayed by the politicized use of security forces to take over the headquarters of an opposition party and arrest
its members. A healthy democracy requires healthy opposition parties”.
Heal Zimbabwe has been on record calling the government to establish an independent complaints mechanism that is
well provided for in Section 210 of the constitution. This important mechanism allows members of the public to submit
complaints against misconduct by members of the security services which include the police. This mechanism is important
as it allows citizens to report acts of misconduct on the part of members of the security services. In 2016,Heal Zimbabwe
took the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to the Constitutional Court over delays in providing an effective
and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about the misconduct
of members of the security services in compliance with Section 210 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. . Even though
judgment was reserved for this case, it is Heal Zimbabwe’s view that without an independent mechanism for receiving and
investigating complaints from the public on the misconduct on the part of members of security services, constitutional
provisions such as Section 206 that compel security services to respect fundamental rights and freedoms, citizens’ rights will
continue to be violated.
www.healzimbabwetrust.org PAGE 4
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