Zimbabwean president’s party rejects Amnesty International human rights criticism

Zimbabwe president’s party slams Amnesty criticism

HARARE, Zimbabwe — President Robert Mugabe’s party has rejected allegations from Amnesty International about continuing human rights violations in Zimbabwe, state media reported Friday.

The Herald newspaper quoted Vice President Joyce Mujuru as saying that national reconciliation was going ahead in Zimbabwe and there was no need for outside interference.

“Some of us have already started talking to our people,” the Herald quoted Mujuru as saying. “We love our people to be together. Being Zimbabweans, our culture does not allow noisy people.”

Amnesty International chief Irene Khan wrapped up a six-day visit to Zimbabwe on Thursday. She said the new unity government had made too little progress in tackling human rights violations and said that Mugabe’s party and security forces still regarded the use of violence as “a legitimate tool to crush political opponents.”

The official Herald newspaper criticized the report as “one-sided” and state radio said it was “not worth the paper it is written on.” Radio, television and the main state newspaper continue to act as the mouthpiece of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party.

The four-month old unity government remains deeply divided between ZANU-PF members and supporters of former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is now prime minister.

In the past, Mugabe barred independent human rights monitors from visiting the country so Khan’s visit was significant even though she did not get to meet the 85-year-old president in person. Mugabe has frequently called the organization “Amnesty Lies International.”

Khan did meet Mujuru and other senior members of Mugabe’s party, and officials from the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change. Khan is scheduled to meet in London with Tsvangirai, who is currently on a trip to the United States and Europe appealing for foreign aid and an end to sanctions.

Khan said the human rights situation in Zimbabwe remained grim despite promises of reform from the new unity government. Minutes after she spoke, police beat peaceful protesters from a local human rights groups.

The official Herald newspaper reported Friday that one of its photographers who was filming the police action was also beaten and bundled into the back of a police vehicle.

Police also broke up a peaceful demonstration in the nation’s second city of Bulawayo on Wednesday and seven demonstrators were jailed. They were expected to appear in court Friday on charges of disturbing the peace.