Ngarivhume Incarceration a Travesty;Amnesty International

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on the Zimbabwean government to uphold the rule of law by opening up the democratic space

Responding to the High Court acquittal of opposition leader, Jacob Ngarivhume, who was sentenced in April to 48 months imprisonment for leading protests against government corruption, , Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa,Khanyo Farisè said that the Transform Zimbabwe leader’s imprisonment on trumped up charges was a clear sign of the shrinking democratic space in Zimbabwe.

”While his conviction has now been quashed, it is unconscionable that Jacob Ngarivhume spent eight months in prison simply for organising a peaceful protest. He should never have been tried, let alone convicted in the first place,”she said.


“His imprisonment is a travesty, and an affront to Zimbabwe’s constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations. No one should be jailed for exercising their human rights. The authorities must uphold and ensure Jacob Ngarivhume’s right to an effective remedy including adequate compensation.

“Jacob Ngarivhume’s case is just one example of an alarming increase in the misuse of the justice system to target, intimidate and harass opposition leaders, human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and other critical voices. Authorities must stop weaponizing the justice system as a tool to persecute opposition figures or anyone who speaks out against allegations of corruption.”

“Authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone including to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”

Zimbabwe has witnessed a scourge in political arrests in recent years with cases including activist, Tsitsi Dangarembga, who was acquitted in May after protesting with a sign in the empty streets of Harare during the 2020 lockdown.

other notable cases includes Opposition politician Job Sikhala who has spent more than 500 days in prison after being convicted of “obstruction of justice”. Although his conviction was overturned in November, he remains in pre-trial detention for incitement to commit violence and disorderly conduct.