As the world commemorates the International Day of Democracy, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have called on the government to uphold democracy and protect human rights as enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Democracy Day, adopted in 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly with the purpose of promoting and upholding the principles of democracy, is observed on September 15 annually.
This year it is running under the theme "Empowering the Next Generation".
In a statement on Friday, ZLHR urged the government to “create conducive conditions for citizens to enjoy their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights”.
“ZLHR urges government to uphold democracy, the rule of law and protect human rights by ceasing all actions that undermine constitutional rights including ending retribution and persecution of perceived government opponents,” ZLHR said.
This year, the day follows Zimbabwe’s chaotic August 23 harmonized elections that were red flagged by a number local, regional and international observer missions over a slew of irregularities.
The plebiscite outcome, dismissed by the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), saw the ruling ZANU-PF party maintain its grip on power with President Emmerson Mnangagwa getting a second term in office.
“ZLHR is concerned that the just concluded harmonised elections were observed to have fallen short of regional and international standards and this does not bode well for the country's democracy and the aspirations of its citizens,” the human rights defenders wrote while adding that the trend of disputed polls “weakens the public's trust in democratic processes”.
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In the pre and post-election period, CCC had a significant number of its leaders and activists arrested for what the party claimed were politically-motivated persecutions.
While urging the government to domesticate the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, ZLHR said the conduct of government authorities, which has seen most charges against CCC members being dropped for lack of evidence, was an outrageous reflection of draconian laws.
