Amnesty International has harshly criticized the African Union’s (AU) lack of action on Zimbabwe, as detained Zimbabwean human rights activist Jestina Mukoko appeared in a court in Harare today, having been tortured in custody.

"Ongoing arrests of human rights and political activists appear to be part of a wider strategy to silence critics of the government, and the AU needs to make a strong statement that this is unacceptable to African leadership," said Veronique Aubert, Deputy Programme Director for Amnesty International’s Africa Programme.

Amnesty International called on the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release prisoners of conscience Jestina Mukoko, Broderick Takawira and Pascal Gonzo, and to initiate a prompt, independent and effective investigation into their arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention, and into claims that Broderick Takawira and Pascal Gonzo were also tortured by members of the security forces.

The three members of the Zimbabwe Peace Project have spent more than a month in custody since their abduction in early December.

"We are concerned about the role being played by various authorities, including the office of the Attorney General, to protect the alleged abductors from being identified and held accountable for the abduction and reported torture of the detainees," said Veronique Aubert.

Amnesty International also called for the dozens of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists who have been held in custody since the end of October 2008 to either be charged and promptly tried in a fair trial or be released immediately. Lawyers of the detainees have repeatedly been denied access to their clients.

"African leaders have squandered numerous opportunities to end the persecution of government critics in Zimbabwe," said Veronique Aubert.

"They continue to be deaf to cries for help and have chosen to be unmoved by ongoing evidence of human suffering in the country - including the appearance in court today of one of the country’s strongest voices for human rights."

"The silence of African leaders and their failure to condemn the government’s blatant disregard for human rights has significantly contributed to the prolongation of the Zimbabwean human rights crisis."

In the run up to the AU summit, scheduled to take place later this month in Addis Ababa, Amnesty International called for the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to publicly denounce the persecution of government critics by Zimbabwe’s state security agents.

The organisation also called on the AU to deploy human rights monitors in Zimbabwe to investigate all allegations of human rights abuses.

"The Zimbabwean authorities are clearly committing grave human rights violations in an attempt to silence critics and political opponents. The AU should immediately call for an end to human rights violations by the security forces and decide to deploy human rights monitors," said Veronique Aubert. "Such a measure will go a long way towards preventing further human rights violations and investigate past abuses."