Zimbabwe: Amnesty warns of 'game playing' ahead of Saturday's referendum

·         Crackdown includes a ban on short-wave radios to limit access to external news

·         Human rights monitors arrested and charged

·         People with outstanding charges banned from observing elections

Amnesty International has warned of ‘game playing’ by the Zimbabwean authorities ahead of Saturday’s referendum and has said that the way in which this referendum is conducted will serve as a litmus test ahead of elections in the country later in the year.

A constitutional referendum in Zimbabwe is due to take place this coming Saturday, 16 March, and an election is likely to follow in July.  In the run-up to the referendum and election, the government has amplified a crackdown on criticism and dissent. The crackdown has included a ban on short-wave radios, in an apparent attempt to curb access to alternative sources of news.

A number of NGOs and civil society organisations have been raided by police and charged with spurious offences ranging from ‘causing malicious damage to property’ and ‘smuggling’ radios into the country.

An announcement last week by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission stated that organisations facing police investigations would be prevented from monitoring the referendum.

Amnesty International’s southern Africa director, Noel Kututwa, said:

“The Zimbabwean authorities must stop this game playing and allow the referendum to take place in a context that ensures the internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

“Previous polls in Zimbabwe have been marred by political violence and human rights abuses. Saturday offers the country a chance to prove it can make a break with the past.

“This referendum is a litmus test for the elections that will be held later this year. Rather than using it as a practice run for suppression and intimidation, the government must embrace it as an opportunity to reinforce respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

In Zimbabwe’s last Presidential elections in 2008 more than 200 people died in election-related violence. Tens of thousands were internally displaced while more than 10,000 were injured. Injuries were so numerous that hospitals ran out of crutches.

In the past six months, Amnesty has documented police raids on seven organisations. At least five of these are groups that have been involved in voter registration and other polls-related activities. Some of them have provided local election observers in previous elections.

Amnesty is urging the Zimbabwean authorities to allow civil society organisations to observe the process without harassment and intimidation and is calling on Zimbabwe's neighbours, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to use its influence to ensure the elections are free from violence and fear.

To call on SADC to ensure the elections are free from violence go to www.amnesty.org.uk/zimbabwe