By 
South Africa Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has expressed deep concerns over the reports on violations of human rights in Zimbabwe.
SAHRC said human rights violations had implications for neighbouring countries such as SA.
SAHRC said in a statement,“While these alleged human rights violations are taking place in Zimbabwe, the SAHRC wishes to underline that human rights know no borders.”
“It has been reported that through its agencies such as the police, the government of.”
“It has been reported that through its agencies such as the police, the government of Zimbabwe has been targeting critics from political and civic formations, such as the arrest and detention of investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, author Tsitsi Dangarembga and others.
Chin’ono was arrested on July 20 and released after on ZWL$10,000 bail 45 days.
“It is further reported that the government appears to have used the Covid-19 lockdown to disproportionately restrict civil and political rights such as the freedoms of assembly, speech, petition and protest. All these restrictions appear to be designed to suppress dissent.”
“Reports also suggest there have been instances of disappearances, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of those arrested and deprived of their liberty.
“The SAHRC urges the government of Zimbabwe to respect customary international law, international and regional human rights treaties to which it is a state party, and specifically to ensure no-one is subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Various activisits and opposition leaders were arrested including Jacob Ngarivhume , MDC Alliance Chair Job Shikhala who is still in remand.
The commission further imposed that , the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights raised concerns on July 24 that Zimbabwean authorities may be using the pandemic as a pretext to clamp down on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
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