Political violence decreases

Politically motivated violence appears to be decreasing in Zimbabwe, according to the latest report by a local human rights group.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum's (Human Rights Forum) latest report on political violence, released on Thursday, indicates that the number of incidents have decreased as tensions subside.

"Reported cases and instances of political violence have decreased in comparison to the cases reported in the first four months of 2002. There has been a decrease of 50 percent in the reported cases of torture, compared to the month of April," the Human Rights Forum report stated.

However, the report noted that "notwithstanding this decline, it is regrettable that two lives were reportedly lost in the first fortnight of May". This brought to 57 the total number of politically-related deaths in 2002.

"The Human Rights Forum, in the midst of this lull, urges the Zimbabwean government to take meaningful steps towards achieving an environment of peaceful political competition. Further to this, of critical importance is the restoration of the rule of law and the end to impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of violence," the organisation said.

The Human Rights Forum is a consortium of NGOs working in the field of human rights. One of its core members, the Amani Trust, which specialises in documenting instances of torture and assisting victims, is to receive an international award for its work.

The Centre for Victims of Torture (US) are presenting their annual Eclipse Award to Amani chair Tony Reeler in recognition of his advocacy on behalf of human rights in Zimbabwe and the work of Amani Trust in the care of victims of torture.

The trust said the presentation would take place in Washington on 25 June in observance of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.