Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s
regime
crackdown
includes
not
only
state
repression
and
violence
but
also
new
laws
restricting
civil
society
and
allowing
government
to
punish
dissent.
These
laws
contravene
Zimbabwe’s
constitution.
We
note
regime
leaders
speaking
publicly
about
arrests
prior
to
the
Southern
African
Development
Community
(SADC)
summit
which
took
place
in
Harare
on
the
17th and
18th August.
More
than
160
people
opposition
politicians,
activists
and
union
leaders
have
been
arrested
by
Zimbabwean
authorities
since
mid-June.
They
were
held
on
remand,
while
bail
is
a
constitutionally
right
in
Zimbabwe
for
non-violent
crimes.
The
charges
were
politically
motivated.
Some
of
those
arrested
were
severely
beaten
and
tortured.
Today
we
join
Zimbabwean
civil
society
in
shining
a
spotlight
on
one
of
the
so-called
Avondale
78:
young
student
Nicole
Chabata.
Nicole
is
a
O-level
student
who
was
arrested
as
one
of
the
Avondale
78
and
who
tomorrow
will
have
spent
3
months
in
pretrial
detention.
The
Avondale
78
were
beaten
and
arrested
while
celebrating
African
Youth
Day
at
the
private
residence
of
an
opposition
leader
on
16
June.
Despite
some
being
released
on
bail,
most
are
still
behind
bars,
including
Nicole. Nicole
was
arrested
halfway
through
her
school
term,
and
was
not
able
to
finish
her
classes
or
sit
her
exams.
This
week,
Nicole
was
meant
to
start
a
new
school
year
but
instead
is
in
Chikurubi
maximum
security
prison.
Today
we
join
Zimbabwe
civil
society
in
calling
on
the
Zimbabwe
regime
to
#FreeNicole
#FreeAvondale78
#FreePoliticalPrisoners.
Share
this
post
on
social
to
amply
the
call.
Read
our report on
Zimbabwe’s
2023
Presidential,
national
and
regional
elections
which
outlines
the
serious
levels
of
repression
and
violence
against
civil
society
and
opposition
leaders
and
highlights
alarming
trends
in
violence
against
women
activists
and
erosion
of
women’s
participation
in
politics.