Petition to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC).
 
CC: 
UN Women
African Union Commission
SADC Gender Unit
Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises
Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Ministry of Defence, Security and War Veterans Affairs
The Parliament of Zimbabwe

SUBJECT:  HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND ACTIVISTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VIOLATIONS.
WE, the undersigned organizations;
*Concerned* about the abuse of women by suspected State security agents across the country,
*Worried* about the failure by the Government of Zimbabwe to bring perpetrators of violence against women to justice,
*Determined* to ensure justice for female victims of torture, rape, enforced disappearance, assault, arbitrary arrests, and other abuses.
Make this petition to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC).
Our Issues:
1. We submit that on the 13th of May 2020, around 2pm, three young women leaders namely Hon Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted, tortured and sexually abused by suspected State security agents. The three were intercepted at a police roadblock manned by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army in Harare. They were informed that they had been arrested for taking part in a peaceful flash demonstration in Warren Park, Harare. According to them, they were taken to Harare Central Police Station but before they could be formally charged, they were taken to an undis\closed destination where they were subjected to intense torture and degrading treatment. The three suffered horrific sexual abuse including their breast being sucked and guns inserted in their anal passage. They were also made to sing, march and dance non-stop for more than 24 hours. They were also assaulted all over their bodies with iron rods. The activists were forced to drink each other’s urine and to eat human excreta. The perpetrators also cut them on their backs using razor blades as part of the torture process. The leaders were later dumped near Bindura around 9pm on the 14th of May 2020. They were finally rescued around 2am on the 15 of May 2020 by a team of family members and lawyers.
2.This petition comes against a backdrop of systematic attacks on women human rights defenders, activists and women in general by suspected State security agents in the past two years. Among the many cases is that of two women from Bulawayo namely Nokuthula and Ntombizodwa Mpofu who were seriously assaulted by six police officers for allegedly breaching the COVID-19 lockdown regulations. The women suffered a lot of trauma and injuries. Another lady, Lucia Masvondo from Karoi was assaulted on 03 April 2020 by police and army officers who also set dogs on her, injuring her in the process. Her alleged crime was that she had defied lockdown regulations.
3. Allegations of rape against innocent women by suspected State security agents during the January 2019 riots still awaits investigation. The same applies to shooting of unarmed women by the army in August 2018 following the July 2018 elections result protests. The continued inaction on these human rights violations remain a cause for concern.
4. There is a serious clampdown of women human rights defenders and activists through arbitrary arrests with four women leaders currently facing treason charges. The women are Rita Nyampinga. Sitabile Dewa, Farirayi Gumbonzvanda and Hon Joana Mamombe. It’s been more than a year since they were arrested but their cases have not gone for trial. Justice delayed is justice denied.
5. Our main worry is the Government of Zimbabwe has not made any steps to address these serious violations against women and instead many Government officials have been on the defense dismissing the cases as stage managed or covering up the violations and perpetrators.
6. It is inconceivable and ridiculous that the police ask the victims of police and army brutality to report to the police so that the police (perpetrators) can arrest the perpetrators.
7.Such serious violations against women by suspected State security agents scare away women from freely, actively and fully participating in political leadership and decision-making processes. Women participation in leadership is still very low with an average 15% of women occupying leadership positions nationally. Under such circumstances, the achievement of gender equality as espoused by the Zimbabwean constitution in section 17, 56 and 80 and UN SDG5 will remain a pipeline dream.
 
Our Demands:
WE the petitioners demand the following:
1. The ZHRC, NPRC and ZGC facilitate for an independent inquiry into gross human rights violations against women by suspected State agents.
2. That independent Commissions supporting democracy provide a safe and secure platform for the victims to submit evidence of the crimes committed by the suspected security forces.
3. We call for justice for the victims of State security brutality including the arrest of all perpetrators, provision of reparation and compensation for the victims and the families who lost their loved ones by the Government.
4. All perpetrators should be held to account and barred from working in the security sector again.
5. The immediate setting up of an independent complaints mechanism in terms of section 210 of the constitution which allows members of the public to lodge complaints against members of the security sector.
 
WE your petitioners pray that you will undertake our demands.
 
Forwarded by:
1) Women's Academy For Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE)
2) WELEAD Trust
3) Economic Justice For Women Zimbabwe (EJWZ)
4) Female Prisoners Support Trust (FEMPRIST)
5) Imba Mukadzi Umuzi Ngumama Trust (IMUNT)