Injustice hurts the most when it targets the innocent. That is exactly what is happening in Zimbabwe, where the government continues to use the law as a weapon against those who dare to speak out. The recent arrest of human rights activist Namatai Kwekweza is not only cruel but completely baseless. It exposes just how broken and politicised the justice system has become under ZANU PF rule. Sometimes people are arrested or convicted for crimes they never committed. That kind of injustice is painful. It ruins lives. And sadly, it is no longer rare in Zimbabwe.
Namatai Kwekweza has been on the frontline of the struggle for human rights for years. She is a symbol of courage in a country that punishes bravery. On 1 August, she was about to board a flight to Victoria Falls when she was pulled off and arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Her only crime is standing for democracy. This is not the first time the police have harassed her. In 2023, she was honoured with the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize for her tireless efforts. But clearly, under Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe, awards do not protect you from persecution.
She was arrested alongside Robson Chere, Samuel Gwenzi, and Vusumuzi Moyo. The state accused them of taking part in a protest outside the Harare magistrate’s court on 27 June, where people were demanding the release of opposition leader Jameson Timba and 78 others. These individuals had earlier been arrested for commemorating Youth Day at a private home in Avondale on 16 June. The government decided to treat the peaceful gathering as a crime. And now, with the SADC summit set for 17 August in Harare, the regime is tightening its grip on civil society and opposition voices. They want to appear stable to regional leaders, even if it means jailing the innocent.
Robson Chere, one of the arrested, was reportedly tortured. His injuries were so severe that he may now be dealing with kidney damage. The use of torture by state agents is illegal under both Zimbabwean and international law. But under this regime, human rights violations are swept under the carpet while the victims are left to suffer in silence.
The most shocking part of Namatai’s case is that she was not even in Zimbabwe when the protest happened. Flight records clearly show that she left Harare on 23 June for South Africa and only returned on 28 June. The protest took place on 27 June. No one can be in two places at once. The evidence is clear. She could not have taken part. But even with this proof, she remains charged. That tells you everything about how the justice system now works in Zimbabwe. It is not about truth. It is about control.
Namatai’s arrest has caused her great suffering. She has been robbed of her freedom. She is now facing financial and emotional pressure because of a legal battle she never asked for. Her reputation is being dragged through the mud. Relationships get affected. Careers are put on hold. All because the system prefers punishing its critics over finding the truth.
In a just society, people are innocent until proven guilty. But in Zimbabwe, it is the opposite. If you speak out, they arrest first and figure things out later. This is not law. It is lawlessness disguised as order. Namatai’s case reminds us of what happened to Job Sikhala. He too was jailed without cause. How many more activists must go through this nightmare before something changes?
The truth is simple. No one should suffer for a crime they did not commit. Namatai deserves justice. And Zimbabwe deserves a government that does not fear its own people.
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