United Nations Human Rights says Zimbabwe should immediately release all detained opposition activists and pro-democracy leaders facing charges of violating some provisions of the Criminal Law (Codification) and Reform Act.
In a message on X, UN Human Rights said, “We are concerned by reports of arrests, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and political activists in the lead up to the SADC Summit.”
Amnesty International recently said Zimbabwe should stop harassing opponents of the government and pro-democracy leaders, noting that they should be released with immediate effect.
The United States, the Netherlands, Britain and other nations have also criticized Zimbabwe for locking up in remand prison nearly 80 opposition Citizens Coalition for Change activists and pro-democracy leaders – Robson Chere, Namatai Kwekweza, Vusumizi Moyo and Samuel Gwenzi.
Pro-democracy activists, including Jeffrey Smith of Vanguard Africa, have also condemned the arrests.
On X, Smith said, "Mnangagwa's chairmanship [of SADC] is likely to derail progress for the entire region. This is because no one will want to comfortably associate with a tainted leader like him."
The Zimbabwean leader and also Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe have claimed that there are some people who are planning to stage anti-government protests during the SADC Summit.
Arrested opposition CCC activists allegedly attended an unsanctioned meeting in Harare while the pro-democracy leaders were locked up for protesting outside a court demanding the release of CCC members.
Mnangagwa and Kazembe Kazembe have threatened to deal ruthlessly with activists planning to protest over the 2023 general elections that were condemned by SADC, European Union and many organizations as a sham.
Zimbabwe insists that the elections were free and fair.