NetRights Coalition Denounces Attack on Civil Groups by Zimbabwean Authorities

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_108221" align="alignnone" width="624"] Anti-Riot police in Norton, Zimbabwe[/caption] A Pan-African Coalition of Internet Freedom practitioners and activists, NetRights Coalition, has condemned the raid of digital technologies associated with the Election Resource Centre (ERC) and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN). The coalition said Zimbabwean authorities carried out the raid on August 23 during the elections. The authorities raided 93 smartphones, 38 laptops, two smartwatches, two modems, one Wi-Fi router, one external drive and other digital gadgets. In a statement, the group said the raid “compromisd the safety of the broader ERC and ZESN family, their members, observers, volunteers and partners.” It added that the raid violated individuals' rights to privacy and was an attack on digital democracy in Zimbabwe and Africa broadly. “The raid is in contradiction to Section 57 of the Zimbabwe Constitution which stipulates that “Every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have: (a) their home, premises or property entered without their permission; (b) their person, home, premises or property searched; (c) their possessions seized; (d) the privacy of their communications infringed…” said the coalition, adding that the act also suppresses freedom of expression. The group called on the Government of Zimbabwe to return Digital Technologies to their rightful owners and respect the freedom of expression stipulated in the country's constitution and International Human Rights regulations. It further asked Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to take stern actions against those involved in the raid.