Snapshot of Zimbabwe

In recent years the major focus of Amnesty has been the lack of protection for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and the culture of impunity that exists in Zimbabwe.

The recently formed national unity government, composing of the ZANU PF and M.D.C, represented an opportunity for Zimbabwe to leave behind their poor human rights record. The Zimbabwean government however, has failed to implement institutional reforms, including reforming the country’s security agencies to ensure that they respect and protect human rights of all people in Zimbabwe. The continuing human rights violations has undermined the credibility of the unity government internationally and perpetuates the fear that past human rights violations may be repeated and a return to political violence that has marred the country since 2000.

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Human rights defenders operate out of necessity due to the continuing violations of their economic, social and cultural rights. The majority are in consistent poverty and are denied access to health and education, and have suffered from the policy of forced evictions.

Health

Public hospitals and clinics are in need of major investment following many years of neglect by the state – with malfunctioning equipment, no medicines and with health workers on strike over poor working conditions and low wages. Where health institutions are still functioning, most patients cannot afford transportation to get there. Private healthcare is unaffordable for the vast majority The situation is so severe that a cholera outbreak that began in August 2008 has killed thousands of people and the death toll keeps rising. By March 2009 the World Health Organisation (WHO) had documented 91,164 cases with 4,037 deaths.

Education

Many teachers have left for neighbouring countries, often to do menial jobs in order to support families back in Zimbabwe. Children living in poverty in Zimbabwe are losing out on their education. In January 2009, most public schools failed to open as teachers were on strike over poor salaries or could not afford transport to work. 

Forced Evictions: Operation Murambatsvina

In May 2005, the government of Zimbabwe launched Operation Murambatsvina, a programme of mass forced evictions and demolition of homes and informal businesses. The operation targeted poor urban and surrounding areas nationwide.

While described and justified by the government as a measure to rid the cities of “illegal activities”, it led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. In 2005, an estimated 700,000 people lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both. The police and the army carried out the demolitions or forced residents themselves to destroy their own homes To this day, those evicted from their homes in 2005 remain living in deplorable conditions. In fact, for many of them their situation has become even more complicated, particularly as a result of all the violence that affected people during the election period in 2008

Poverty: Food security

The country is in a state of unprecedented economic decline. Hyperinflation has rendered the domestic currency virtually worthless. The disastrous fast track land reform policy of 2000 has left 70% of farm workers without jobs.

Food has become a political tool. Nearly half of Zimbabwe’s population is dependant on food aid from the World Food Programme (WFP), which has halved its rations in order to meet increased demands. A recent WFP survey found that nearly one in five households in Zimbabwe had sold assets in the past three months and that more than 70% had done so to buy food; 12% of households had not eaten since the previous day. Despite the high levels of food insecurity and in clear violation of its obligations under international human rights law, the ZANU-PF government consistently used food as a tool to demand loyalty in rural areas. For example, in the run up to the June election thousands of rural farmers’ food reserves were plundered or destroyed as a punishment for supporting opposition parties.

These polices have served to drive the marginalized deeper into poverty.

The key focus of the Amnesty campaign is the protection of human rights defenders and ending impunity for violations of human rights.