Rights Groups Reprimand Govt Over Protest Violence

After Monday’s protest by rural teachers in Harare, various rights groups across the country has slammed the government and police officers who brutally attacked the peaceful protesters.

Rural teachers all gathered in the capital to stage a protest towards the government after they did not receive a thirteenth cheque last year, as was promised to them by the government.

The protesters planned to march to Parliament where they would hand in a petition.

However, while making their way to parliament, the protesters were attacked by police officers in full riot gear. A handful of the protesters were also arrested and sent to jail.

Those that were severely injured were taken to a private hospital.

In response to the violence on Monday, many rights groups have condemned the actions of the police as well as the government.

Some of the groups called out the “ [blatant] disregard of the Constitution” by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) spokesperson Kumbirai Mafunda said the police acted unconstitutionally:

“…[sic] The police are still having a complete disregard of the Constitution which now has freedoms that allow people to protest peacefully as provided in Section 59 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom to demonstrate and petition…The police continue to abuse the Constitution through their arbitrary actions and this shows the urgent need for the police to be given constitutional education and training so that these violations of people’s rights become a thing of the past,” he said.