ZIMBABWE CRACKS DOWN ON PROTESTS BEFORE BIG SADC SUMMIT

The Zimbabwean government is taking strong action to stop any protests before an important Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Harare next month. The government does not want any protests when regional leaders arrive.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his team are working very hard to prepare for the summit. This event is very important because last year’s general election was rejected by the SADC election observer mission. They said the election was not free and fair. Now, the government wants political support from SADC, so they are making sure nothing goes wrong before the summit.

The government is spending a lot of money to make the country look good for the summit. They are fixing roads, improving hotels, and even building new villas. They are also buying new buses to transport guests.

But at the same time, the government is stopping any kind of opposition. Today, at 10 AM, police stopped a meeting of the Zimbabwe National Students Union at Zesa National Training Centre in Harare. Police used force, and many students were badly beaten. Some were arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station. The students were only having a meeting, but the government saw it as a threat. This is a clear violation of the right to assemble and speak freely.

The crackdown on opposition is getting worse. Many people have been arrested for no real reason. On June 16, former minister and MP Jameson Timba and 78 others were arrested in Avondale, Harare. They were simply having a braai (barbecue) to remember South Africa’s Soweto Uprising (Youth Day). The government saw this as a political gathering and arrested them.

Another example is opposition leader Job Sikhala. He spent 595 days in prison, even though he did nothing wrong. He was charged with inciting public violence, but on Monday, the High Court dismissed his conviction. Another charge against him was also thrown out because the law it was based on does not even exist anymore.

These events show that in Zimbabwe, freedom of speech and peaceful gathering are under attack. During elections, the government usually restricts these freedoms. But now, even ahead of the SADC summit, the crackdown is continuing. People who are part of the opposition or those who speak against the government are the main targets. They are arrested, detained, and harassed.

Recently, the government passed a new law called the “Patriotic Act.” This law is an amendment to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. It adds new restrictions and harsh penalties for activists and people who criticize the government. This law makes it even harder for people to speak out.

The Zimbabwean government does not want protests or opposition ahead of the SADC summit. They are spending a lot of money to prepare, but they are also using strong measures to silence people. This is making the situation in the country very tense.

Many Zimbabweans and international observers are worried about these actions. The government is creating fear by using force and arresting people who have different opinions. This is not how a free and democratic country should behave.

The world is watching Zimbabwe closely as the SADC summit approaches. Many people and human rights groups are calling for the government to respect constitutional rights. People should be allowed to speak freely and gather peacefully.

The next few weeks will be very important for Zimbabwe. The government wants to show a stable and peaceful country to SADC leaders. But if they continue using force and violating people’s rights, it could cause even more problems. The way the government handles this situation will affect Zimbabwe’s future and its relations with SADC.

Will the government’s crackdown work, or will it only lead to more protests? Only time will tell.