DEMOCRACY UNDER SIEGE: OBEY SHAVA’S ATTACK EXPOSES THE ED REGIME’S CRUEL CHARADE
The recent brutal attack on human rights lawyer, Obey Shava, has laid bare the farcical façade of the Emmerson Mnangagwa (ED) regime’s claim to democratic governance. This horrific incident is not only a blatant violation of the Human Rights Charter, but also a glaring crime against humanity that deserves immediate international attention and intervention.
Obey Shava, a prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, has spent his life championing the rights of the oppressed, bravely representing victims of state-sponsored violence and speaking against the authoritarian tendencies of the ED regime. The barbaric assault on Shava was clearly intended to silence his voice and intimidate other brave souls who dare to challenge the tyranny of Mnangagwa’s government.
Such an attack flouts the fundamental tenets of the Human Rights Charter, specifically the right to personal security, freedom of expression, and peaceful association. It is a shocking transgression against the principle that everyone, irrespective of their political persuasion or professional commitment, has the right to live free from fear of violence and persecution.
This grim incident also illuminates the hollow nature of the ED regime’s democratic pretences. While proclaiming their dedication to democratic values, the government has repeatedly proven itself willing to deploy repressive tactics against those who dare to dissent. The brutal assault on Shava exemplifies this despotic behaviour, revealing the regime’s inherent predilection for suppressing critical voices.
Furthermore, such a flagrant violation of human rights can indeed be labelled as a crime against humanity. Crimes against humanity encompass serious attacks on human dignity or grave humiliation or degradation of human beings. They are not isolated or sporadic events, but are part either of a government policy or of a wide practice of atrocities tolerated or condoned by a government or a de facto authority.
Under this definition, the attack on Shava, far from being an isolated incident, fits into the broader pattern of state-sanctioned violence and intimidation that the ED regime has been accused of. It is not just a crime against one man but is representative of the systemic violation of human rights that has come to characterise Mnangagwa’s reign.
It is an irony of the worst kind that a government that loudly proclaims its adherence to democratic principles, continually violates the human rights of its citizens. These actions don’t promote democracy but, instead, they promote an environment of fear and oppression, stifling the very freedoms that are integral to a functioning democracy.
The international community cannot remain indifferent to this flagrant violation of human rights. The United Nations, the African Union, and other global bodies should condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and hold the ED regime accountable for their actions. Inaction or silence will only embolden the regime to continue their repressive tactics with impunity.
The fate of Obey Shava is a stark reminder of the grim reality that many Zimbabweans face under the ED regime. Despite the glossy facade of democratic rhetoric, the government’s actions expose a chilling disregard for basic human rights. It is time for the international community to call out this deception and demand justice for Shava and the countless others who have suffered at the hands of this regime.
The brutal attack on human rights lawyer Obey Shava, a man known for his dedication to justice and human rights, symbolises the anti-democratic tendencies of the ED regime. This is not just an attack on an individual, but on the ideals of democracy, justice, and human dignity that we all should hold dear. It is a crime against humanity, and the world must not stay silent.
