“Not to act is to act.” This famous quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is instrumental in the work we do as ACN to ensure we act to restore and preserve peace through non violet actions when peace is under assault as we have seen in the last past months of 2023 across African countries.
Recently this early September, devoted renowned human rights lawyers Doug Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who are representing two Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members, who had been abducted and were receiving treatment at a hospital in Harare, were arrested and charged with obstructing the course of justice. The two lawyers were arrested for advising the police that the two political opposition members were in a bad state and were under medical care. They were denied bail by the police. Their clients, Womberaiishe Nhende, the elected Councilor for Glen Norah Ward 27 in Harare, and Sonele Mukhuhlani, were abducted and tortured before being dumped on the outskirts of Harare on 2 September 2023.
Again, in this same month, dozens of people were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during demonstrations against the United Nations’ mission in the country. CNN reports, and over 150 people were arrested, including the leader of the group which organized the peaceful protests.
ACN was at the forefront of building a cross border solidarity mission demanding the release of the human rights lawyers as this was a clear suppression of voices fighting for justice. ACNs involvement in this matter eventually led to their release.
ACN will remain instrumental in peace undertakings across Africa in its responsibility to promote actions for peace.