THE Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has called on government to reaffirm its commitment to uphold and defend fundamental human rights and freedoms.
In a statement, the Forum condemned the onslaught against civil society organisations and human rights defenders.
“Immediately act to reaffirm its commitment to upholding and defending fundamental human rights and freedoms by abiding by the revised Southern African Development Community Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections which mandate member States to exercise political tolerance, ensure full participation of the citizens in the political process as well as respect, protect and fulfil the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association of civic society organisations and citizens collectively," the Forum said.
The human rights group also called on government to end the persecution of election observers from the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) and the Election Resource Centre (ERC).
"End the unwarranted persecution of Zesn and ERC staff and volunteers by facilitating the full and unconditional dropping of charges against the arrested 39 individuals and the return of the equipment seized.
"Ensure that polling agents and observers are protected and are not victimised because of the work they carried out during the elections," the Forum added.
The Forum said government's failure to uphold human rights would have a negative impact on the country's democracy and development.
The arrest of election observers has been widely condemned with human rights groups saying this is an attempt to silence them from critically analysing the just-ended elections.
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