A network of 200 civil society organisations providing professional medical and psychological services to victims of violence and torture in South Africa has condemned the arrest and detention of Zimbabwean civic leaders and activists.

Themba Lesizwe, through its partnership with Zimbabwean human rights and civil society organisations, says it is deeply concerned at the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the continuing abuses of human rights.

It is further concerned that the leaders will be charged under the Public Order and Security Act, legislation that has received international condemnation.

On the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the actions of the Zimbabwe government and the Zimbabwe Republic Police demonstrated a violation of the Harare Declaration.

Testimonies and evidence regarding the Harare events were given at the Johannesburg Symposium on Justice and Civil Society in August 2003.

This Symposium, convened by Themba Lesizwe under the auspices of the Southern African Trauma Coalition and in cooperation with the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the International Bar Association, issued a Declaration whose terms are even more relevant today than in August.

The organisation made variousdemands on the Zimbabwean government, including that there be an immediate end to political violence and intimidation, and an immediate repeal of all repressive legislation and unjust laws such as the Public Order and Security Act, and charges brought before the repeal of these laws should be withdrawn and sentences previously imposed be annulled; that there be an immediate opening up of political space, and that the economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe be immediately addressed.