SADC urged to act on Zim human rights violations

Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the MDC have agreed on a bill for joint presidential and legislative elections

Amnesty International has called on the leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to redouble their efforts to end human rights violations in Zimbabwe. A recent report by the international watchdog has found that Zimbabwean women are suffering increasing repression as they mobilise to confront the government in the face of a spiralling economic and social rights crisis in Zimbabwe.

The findings follow a three-week research mission during which delegates interviewed scores of women throughout Zimbabwe, from both townships and rural areas.

Amnesty International spoke to many women who became human rights defenders following repeated violations of their rights by the Zimbabwean government. Most reported being subjected to beatings and other ill-treatment while in police custody, in some cases amounting to torture.

Motivating women to protest
The international watchdog has urged the government in Harare to address the underlying economic and social problems that are motivating women to protest, rather than attacking them.

The organisation has also called on the region's leaders to take tougher action, saying it should use next month's SADC meeting in Zambia to insist that Robert Mugabe, the president, stop the intimidation, ill-treatment, torture and harassment of critics of government policies.

The report comes as Mugabe opened Parliament for the last time before next year's presidential elections. There was disappointment because there was not a word on mediation efforts, or opposition demands for a new constitution.