State violence against women – Students show solidarity

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), the country's biggest student union, has condemned the violence perpetrated against civilians by government security forces, and threw its weight behind last week’s 'Black Wednesday' demonstration called by women’s rights organisations in Zimbabwe.

On the same Wednesday, it was reported by the United Kingdom’s Guardian newspaper that internal Zimbabwean police documents passed to the newspaper pointed to the army as being responsible for murder, rape and armed robbery during the brutal crackdown on protests in mid-January, sparked by the government’s announcement of an immediate 150% increase in the fuel price

“In more than a dozen investigation reports shared with the Guardian by police officials frustrated at the apparent impunity of the military, a series of alleged attacks are described, including two murders and the rape of a 15-year-old girl,” the newspaper said.

“Police investigators wrote that all the acts were committed by men wearing army ‘uniforms’ or ‘camouflage’ – a style of wording allowing the police to avoid making direct accusations against the powerful military.”

Brutal treatment of women

In solidarity with the women’s rights organisations in the country, ZINASU observed #BlackWednesday, held on 30 January to register widespread concern over the injustice and the brutal treatment of women, in particular by security forces.

“We all left our gender orientation behind and joined women in wearing black, not because it is fashionable to do so … our conscience and mandate demand that we speak against malevolence and injustice,” ZINASU spokesperson Tatenda Madondo said.

“We observed #Black Wednesday because, besides being a student union, we also fight for human rights and are also a feminist movement and we fight for the rights of all women. A violation of one woman is an assault on womanhood, so it is our wish to support the victims of the state-sponsored rape and abuse.”

In a statement last month calling on the Zimbabwean authorities to hold the security forces to account for human rights violations, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southern Africa Deprose Muchena said: “The onslaught by the security forces in Zimbabwe has seen people killed, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, reportedly raped and jailed on suspicion of taking part in the protests. Children as young as 11 years old have also been charged.”

Amnesty International said at least 12 people had been killed and dozens more injured by the security forces since protests began.

“Up to 700 people, including minors, have been detained after being arrested on trumped-up charges, or brought before courts in hearings that do not meet fair trial standards. Hundreds have been denied bail,” the Amnesty statement said.

Government also shut down the internet during the week of protest to prevent communication, while President Emmerson Mnangagwa was on a state visit to Russia.

Students under fire

Madondo said students have also been affected by the crackdown, particularly its male membership who live in high-density areas – with these areas specifically being targeted by security forces – and who were known to be vocal. The union has not received reports of rape concerning its female membership.

Madondo called upon the security forces to respect human life, observe human rights and pleaded that all the perpetrators of the human rights violations be held accountable for their crimes.

“To restore trust between the state and civilians, the state must immediately instruct soldiers to return to the barracks, while the judiciary must demonstrate its independence and impartiality by dealing decisively with perpetrators of gruesome acts of violence against women.”

ZINASU has added its voice to growing calls for a national dialogue to fix the country’s deteriorating economic and political situation.

“There is no solution for our country other than national dialogue. We therefore call for sober-minded dialogue between major political, civic and economic players to find a lasting solution to the current national economic and political crises,” said Madondo.

ZINASU said more than 40 of its members have been arrested as part of a wider net that has included civil society leaders, politicians and innocent citizens, some on spurious charges. Many of the arrested are imprisoned without fair trial, having been denied bail, the union said.