Members of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the National Constitutional Assembly and Women of Zimbabwe Arise, among other civic groups, marched through Harare Thursday and tried to present a petition to the Supreme Court and parliament expressing concern at what they say is an increase in human rights violations.
Press reports said the group of marchers successfully handed over their petition to the Supreme Court but that officials at the parliament refused to accept the petition.
A number of reports slamming the Zimbabwean government have been released this week to mark World Human Rights Day on Sunday. One was issued by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, which pointed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police as serious violators of human rights. The group also said violence against women is rising.
Rangu Nyamurundira of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that although the level of abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe cannot be compared that in Darfur, Sudan, for instance, serious violations of human, cultural and economic rights are taking place.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...
