UN experts urge Zimbabwe to release activists ahead of SADC summit

UN-appointed experts have urged Zimbabwe to release three rights activists as the country prepares to host a key regional SADC summit.

They named them in a statement as rights activist Namatai Kwekweza, teachers’ union leader Robson Chere and Samuel Gwenzi, a former Harare municipal councilor.

They were arrested on 31^st July for demonstrating in support of jailed opposition leader Jameson Timba and other activists.

The UN experts said unidentified men had forced them off an aeroplane and held them incommunicado for eight hours.

They were afterwards handed over to police who informed them for the first time of the reason for their arrest of alleged “disorderly conduct”