African Arguments – Over a hundred African writers call on the AU and SADC to end their silence and suspend Zimbabwe.
Dear African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Tax,
As writers and journalists of African origin who are connected beyond borders, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on the home of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. We equally condemn his arrest and subsequent denial of bail.
On 20 July 2020, award-winning Zimbabwean investigative journalist Mr Chin’ono who had, a month before, exposed corruption in the coronavirus-related contracts awarded by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to Drax International, tweeted that uniformed police had been questioning his staff. On the same day, uniformed police raided Mr Chin’ono’s home and arrested him without a warrant. For hours, his whereabouts were unclear. It took the release of footage of the police breaking a glass door at his home and arresting him for the police to admit that they had taken him.
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information, outside their mandate, released a charge sheet of Mr Chin’ono’s arrest via their Twitter account. Despite Mr Chin’ono’s arrest on 20 July, the charge sheet was dated 21 July. Breaking Zimbabwe’s own laws which requires a person to go to court within 24 hours of arrest, Mr Chin’ono only appeared in court on unclear charges four days later and was denied bail until 7 August. In contrast, the former Minister of Health, Dr Obadiah Moyo, who approved the contracts that Mr Chin’ono exposed, was charged with criminal abuse of office and granted bail within 24 hours of his arrest. Dr Moyo remains free while Mr Chin’ono is in jail.
By arresting Hopewell Chin’ono arbitrarily, the Zimbabwean state has contravened the African Charter for Human Rights, in particular Article 6 and Article 14 which Zimbabwe signed and ratified.
We note with dismay the silence of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) at this gross violation of not only Mr Chin’ono’s human rights, but at this clear intimidation of freedom of the press.
We note too that this is not the first time that individual and press rights have been violated by an AU member state with silence from the mother body. The African Union, an organisation that was quick to tell the world that #BlackLivesMatter in the wake of George Floyd’ murder and other human rights abuses by police in the United States, seems strangely silent about the violation of Black Lives in Africa.
We fear that as long as Zimbabwe continues to violate its citizens’ rights with impunity, we and fellow writers and journalists are in danger of having our rights violated in the different AU member states while the mother body stays silent. An injury to a Zimbabwean journalist for doing their job by the Zimbabwean state thus becomes potential injury to us all by any rogue African government.
We ask that all decent human beings join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. As they protest in Zimbabwe, we ask SADC, the AU and other international bodies to suspend Zimbabwe with immediate effect. We ask too that all countries that respect human and media rights cut all diplomatic ties with a country that respects none.
We demand, instead of keeping Mr Chin’ono arrested, that Zimbabwe prosecute the perpetrators in the Drax scandal, get back coronavirus funds and #FreeHopewellChin’onoNow.
Signed,
- Chris Abani
- Leila Aboulela
- Leye Adenle
- Bisi Adjapon
- Ama Atta Aidoo
- Dami Ajayi
- Kofi Akpabli
- Richard Ali
- d.bi young anitafrika
- Barbara Angopa
- Ayesha Harruna Attah
- Ishmael Beah
- TJ Benson
- Nikiwe Bikitsha
- Malungile Booi
- Jessemusse Cacinda
- Maxine Case
- Efemia Chela
- Panashe Chigumadzi
- Shadreck Chikoti
- Lynsey Chutel
- Justin Clement
- Nana Awere Damoah
- Tolu Daniel
- CA Davids
- Nadia Davids
- Philippa Yaa de Villiers
- Bazukile Diko
- Dilman Dila
- Raoul Djimeli
- Edwige Dro
- Ekow Duker
- Chikè Frankie Edozien
- Mona Eltahawy
- Kalaf Epalanga
- Virgilia Ferrão
- Paula Fray
- Macharia Gaitho
- Xolisa Guzula
- Anton Harber
- Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
- Eghosa Imasuen
- Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
- Nyasha Kadandara
- Mubanga Kalimamukwento
- Aryan Karganof
- Caiphus Kgosana
- Sihle Khumalo
- Nicole Magabo Kiggundu
- Mandla Langa
- Kinna Likimani
- Kwangu wa Liwewe
- Max Lobe
- Siphiwo Mahala
- Angela Makholwa
- Nansubuga Jennifer Makumbi
- Makwena Manamela
- Napo Masheane
- Mohale Mashigo
- Mel Matsinhe
- Makanaka Mavengere
- Nokuthula Mazibuko
- Eusebius McKaiser
- Zakes Mda
- Maaza Mengiste
- Ruona Meyer
- Thando Mgqolozana
- Niq Mhlongo
- Gcina Mhlope
- Lerato Mogoathle
- Lebohang Mojapelo
- T.O. Molefe
- Yara Monteiro
- William Moore
- Ntshepeng Motema
- Sisonke Msimang
- Sihle Mthembu
- Lindelwa Mtongana
- Merdi Mukore
- Dumisani Mulenga
- Danai Mupotsa
- James Murua
- Neo Musangi
- Tinashe Mushakavanhu
- Sitawa Namwalie
- Japhet Ncube
- Njabulo Ndebele
- Mumbo Nduati
- Rémy Ngamije
- Thembelani Ngenelwa
- Kagayi Ngobi
- Mukoma wa Ngugi
- Masande Ntshanga
- Josh Nyapimbi
- Natasha Omokhodion-Banda
- Dominic Brian Omondi
- Yewande Omotoso
- Ondjaki
- Troy Onyango
- Tochi Onyebuchi
- Daniel Muta Sango
- Mongane Wally Serote
- Elma Shaw
- Lamelle Shaw
- Lola Shoneyin
- Veronique Tadjo
- Nokuthula Tshabalala
- Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
- Kola Tubosun
- Louise Umutoni
- Molara Wood
- Zukiswa Wanner
