ED must just reform and shame the devil

ON Wednesday, a UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group confirmed critics’ worst fears that there has been no change in the country’s human rights record under President Emmerson Mnangagwa despite claims by the second republic that it has introduced sweeping reforms.

From the United States, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Germany and neighbours South Africa, the message is the same — there is a need to break from the past and chart a new trajectory anchored on reforms to guarantee basic rights to all Zimbabweans.

On assuming power about four years ago, Mnangagwa promised sweeping reforms as he projected his administration as different from his predecessor the late Robert Mugabe’s, but entrenched repression mars his rule, with harsh laws against critics being polished for implementation.

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