ZIMBABWE CRACKS DOWN AHEAD OF BIG SUMMIT

The Zimbabwean government is making strict rules to stop any meetings before a major summit of Southern African leaders next month. This summit is very important for the country, and the government is afraid of protests that could happen when all the leaders come to Harare.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is preparing heavily for the summit. This meeting of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) is very important for Zimbabwe, especially because of the problems in last year’s elections. The Sadc group that watched those elections said they were not free and fair. Now, Mnangagwa’s government is trying to make sure everything looks perfect before the summit.

The government is spending a lot of money. They are building new roads, fixing hotels, making new villas, and buying buses to make everything look ready for the event. They want to impress the other leaders who will be coming to Zimbabwe.

But at the same time, the government is using force to stop people from meeting. Today, the police broke up a meeting of students from the Zimbabwe National Students Union. The meeting was at 10 a.m. at the Zesa National Training Centre in Harare. There were about 60 students at the meeting, and many of them were beaten by the police. Some of them were arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station. The police action was very violent, and it went against the rights of the students. They have the right to meet, talk, and share their ideas, but the police didn’t respect that.

In recent times, the police have been arresting people for small reasons. The government seems very worried about anyone who is unhappy or might protest. Last month, a former minister, Jameson Timba, and a group of 78 people were arrested. They were not doing anything wrong; they were just having a barbecue in Avondale, Harare, on June 16. They were remembering South Africa’s Soweto Uprising, a special day called Youth Day. Even though this gathering was peaceful, they were arrested.

Also, an opposition leader, Job Sikhala, was only let out of prison in January after being there for 595 days. He was jailed for inciting public violence, even though he had not done anything wrong. A lower court found him guilty, but the High Court decided that there was no real reason to put him in jail. The High Court also cleared him of another charge about giving false information. That law no longer exists, but he was charged under it anyway.

In Zimbabwe, the government has been restricting people’s rights to speak, gather, and protest. This problem is getting worse as the Sadc summit gets closer. People who are in opposition to the government, or even those who are just seen with the opposition, are the ones who are affected the most. They are often arrested for no reason, and some are put on trial.

The government has also made new laws, like the “Patriotic Act.” This law makes it even harder for people to speak out or protest. It gives more power to the police to punish activists and those who speak against the government. This law is part of a bigger plan to stop anyone from protesting or speaking out during the Sadc summit. The government wants to show the other leaders that everything is under control, but many say that they are doing this by taking away people’s basic rights.

People around the world are now watching what is happening in Zimbabwe. Many are worried about the way the government is treating its people. The attacks on students, opposition leaders, and everyday people show that the government will do anything to keep control. This crackdown on rights and freedom is causing a lot of fear and concern in the country.

As the summit gets closer, the government’s tough approach is likely to continue. Zimbabwe wants to make a good impression, but the cost is high. People are losing their rights, and many are afraid to speak or protest. The Sadc summit is important, but many are asking if it is worth all the pain being caused to the people of Zimbabwe. The world will be watching to see what happens next.