Shock at continued detention of human rights activist in Zimbabwe
A human rights activist has been imprisoned in Zimbabwe for exposing human rights violations in the country’s diamond fields.
Farai Maguwu, head of an organisation that monitors human rights abuses in the diamond industry, was forced to hand himself over to police after members of his family were beaten and interrogated.
Mr Maguwu’s lawyers say their client is being punished for blowing the whistle on human rights violations to a member of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KP), a system that aims to certify rough diamonds as being free from links to violence.
Unlawfully persecuted
“Farai Maguwu is being persecuted for carrying out his lawful work of monitoring and documenting alleged human rights violations by security forces at some of Zimbabwe’s richest diamond fields,” said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty International’s Africa director.
“We consider Farai Maguwu a prisoner of conscience and call on the authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally.”
Charged with “publishing or communicating false information prejudicial to the state”, Mr Maguwu has been detained for over a month now and was denied bail last week.
When the activist met with Abbey Ckikane, a monitor from the KP scheme, state intelligence officers were also present, leading to fears that the KP system can no longer protect people who provide information about human rights violations at Zimbabwe’s diamond fields.
Freedom of expression
Amnesty International today urged the Zimbabwean government to release Mr Maguwu immediately, as he is being charged under a section of law that denies people the right to freedom of expression.
This includes the right to submit to governmental bodies, agencies and organisations concerned with public affairs, criticism and proposals for improving their functioning, and the right to draw attention to any aspect of their work that may hinder or impede the promotion, protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
