Crackdown in Zimbabwe: Keeping Democratic Hopes Alive Amid Rising Repression

Location:	Washington, D.C.
Event Date:	April 27, 2007
Speakers:	Akwe Amosu, Grace Kwinjeh, Lovemore Madhuku, Otto Saki

The Woodrow Wilson Center Africa Program and the Open Society Institute cosponsored a briefing with Zimbabwean civil society and opposition leaders. Panelists included a human rights lawyer, an NGO leader and an MDC representative, two of whom were brutally assaulted by police on March 11.

Panelists provided a first-hand account of the escalating crackdown by police and security agents of the ZANU-PF government involving the abduction, detention and torture of grassroots activists across the country. At least 600 people are estimated to have "disappeared." In addition to the recent waves of repression, the ZANU-PF government is accused of attempting to undermine opposition support ahead of 2008 polls. Panelists provided an assessment of the conditions facing international organizations working in Zimbabwe.

Location

5th Floor Conference Room
Woodrow Wilson Center in the Ronald Reagan Building
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC