Michael de Laine

As MDC’s Tsvangirai is sworn in as Zimbabwe Prime Minister, Amnesty says human rights must top the political agenda

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 12th February 2009

MDC’s Tsvangirai was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister yesterday. Amnesty says human rights and deteriorating economic and social conditions must top Zimbabwe’s political agenda. The country’s Prisoners of Conscience must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister yesterday.

To mark Tsvangirai’s wearing-in ceremony, Amnesty International issued a five-point human rights agenda for the new government to implement as its first steps to address Zimbabwe’s legacy of impunity for human rights violations.

“For nearly a decade the people of Zimbabwe have endured immense suffering as a result of the government’s policies against perceived opponents,” said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s Zimbabwe expert. “It is against this background that we are calling on President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to take concrete steps to demonstrate their government’s commitment to internationally recognized human rights.”

Amnesty also called for the immediate and unconditional release of three ‘Prisoners of Conscience’, Jestina Mukoko, Broderick Takawira and Pascal Gonzo. These human rights workers have been in custody since early December, when they were abducted by state security agents, the human rights organisation said. It also expressed concern over the continued ill-treatment of political detainees, including Fidelis Chiramba of the MDC, who is reported to be in urgent need of hospitalisation.

“The deteriorating economic and social conditions must also be a priority for this government,” Mawanza added. “The people of Zimbabwe urgently need food, housing, essential health care, safe drinking water, sanitation and education. If the government is unable to deliver these basic necessities, it will have to seek international cooperation and assistance and remove unnecessary restrictions.”

The swearing-in of Morgan Tsvangirai unfortunately means “he must share power with the election’s loser, Robert Mugabe, who has used all possible means to hold on to power,” said Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller. “Now it is important to support Tsvangirai in his endeavours to improve the conditions for the Zimbabwean people, who are suffering from cholera, enormous unemployment, inflation and the fear of violence. If Tsvangirai cannot demonstrate progress in these areas, Mugabe will not hesitate to use this against him, democracy and the west, who Mugabe has accused of interfering in Zimbabwean affairs to the benefit of Tsvangirai.”