PRESS STATEMENT BY THE BOTSWANA CIVIL SOCIETY SOLIDAROTY COALITION FOR ZIMBABWE (BOCISCOZ)

BOCISCOZ disturbed by reports of conditions in Zimbabwe prisons under Unity Government

We, The Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ) are deeply disturbed about the recent SABC Special Assignment report concerning current prison conditions in Zimbabwe.

On 30 January 2009, we expressed our disappointment with the SADC decision that a Government of National Unity (GNU) should be formed before SADC had set clear conditions for the resolution of key issues. These included abductions and the illegal detention of civil society activists; respect of court orders by those in authority for victims of human rights violations and a guarantee of safe return for those Zimbabweans who fled Zimbabwe in fear for their lives.

Not only have abductions occurred since the formation of the GNU in February 2009, farm invasions have also continued. The police have reportedly not acted in accordance with their role as custodians of the law and protectors of human rights. The SABC Report in April 2009, has exposed the extent to which human rights continue to be violated in Zimbabwe. There was evidence of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment as prisoners are held under appalling conditions. Inmates contract skin diseases from the lice-infested blankets which are provided. Shortage of prison clothing has led to prisoners having to share clothing, with those who are to appear in court wearing clothes – leaving other prisoners naked.

The right to a fair trial is severely compromised by the lengthy time which prisoners spend awaiting trial. Most of them have no access to State-funded legal representation and are held for months or years before their cases even reach the courts.

The right to be treated with dignity, the fundamental cornerstone of human rights, is seriously undermined by the fact that even in death, corpses of prisoners are left in cells with the living for a number of days before they are removed. Added to this, prisoners are provided with little food and that which is available is of poor nutritional content. The rights of the child are also compromised as young children are often detained with their mothers and kept in these appalling conditions.

SADC and The African Union, as guarantors of the GNU, have a responsibility to both the people of Zimbabwe and those of the continent of Africa, to ensure that this appalling state of affairs is rectified in the interest of democracy, good governance and the protection and promotion of human rights. As guarantors of the GNU they should develop clear, measurable outcomes within a specific timeframe. These should effect real and positive change to the urgent issues already articulated by civil society, currently affecting Zimbabweans.  While there may appear to be visible changes for those who are able to purchase goods from recently-stocked shops with foreign currency, such change does not fundamentally improve the lives of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe. The security forces, the police force and the prison officials need to be made to account for the continuing serious violations of human rights.

Gaborone
14 April 2009

For more information, please contact DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights at Tel: 267 390 6998 Fax: 267 3907778, Website: www.ditshwanelo.info.bw, Email:admin.ditswanelo@info.bw/ditshawnelo-myfuturetoday@info.org.bw