Michelle Chifamba/ Florence Muzambani,  Harare

A Harare based political think-tank,  Zimbabwe Democratic Institute has described the worsening human rights situation in Zimbabwe as a  threat to Constitutionalism.

It its recent report, titled, ‘Crackdown on Dissenters: Teaching the Tortoise to Hurry in Zimbabwe’, ZDI says the crackdown on opposition and human rights defenders during the SADC Industrialization Week has been glaring on the state’s disregard for constitutional rights and democratic norms shaking the key values of Hunhu/Ubuntu- the foundations upon which the republic is glued together.

According to the ZDI report the crackdown is a political legitimacy deficiency syndrome, the symptoms of later stages of a decaying social contract upon which the very existence of the government lies.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to host the 44^TH SADC Summit in Harare, this August. While the government has been making strides to improve on infrastructure development such as rapid road rehabilitation within the city, the democratic space has been shrinking with arrests, intimidation, detaining and prosecution of suspected government critics escalating during the weeks leading to the summit.

Since June, opposition political party leader Jameson Timba and 77 other activists have been detained in Remand prison, denied bail, while human rights activist Namatai Kwekweza and three other human rights defenders Samuel Gwenzi, Vusumuzi Sibanda and Robson Chere were arrested this August and are yet to be tried.

ZDI states that the Zimbabwean government has systematically targeted opposition leaders, journalists and activists using the coercive state apparatus to protect the ruling elite’s survival. In its report ZDI, states that the current attacks on civil liberties are not responses to external threats but also a reflection of internal fissures within the ruling party.

“Infighting and power struggles have created an atmosphere of paranoia, leading to preemptive measures to prevent any faction from hijacking public protests,” reads the ZDI report.

In recent weeks, the central business district has been experiencing a somber atmosphere with informal traders being rounded-up by municipal police to keep the city clean, while the plans for demonstrations against government have been thwarted by the heavy presence of security service in the streets.

“The recent onslaught against the opposition and civil society activists is best understood within the context of a securocrat state that prioritizes regime security over citizens rights and demands, using coercive apparatus to forcefully coerce its political rivals into submission. The crackdown is deployed for regime survival,” reads part of the ZDI report.

Last week, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference issued a statement raising concern on the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe.

According to the CBC statement, the preparation to the SADC Heads of States meeting has resulted in the resurgence of some ugly vices.

“As the SADC summit draws near, we appeal to the law enforcers that they execute their duties professionally. It is prudent that investigations are done first and then crime perpetrators are arrested,” read the CBC’s statement.