"Throughout the region, a combination of civilians, police and soldiers have been put on the streets to monitor the movement of people and ensure that they comply with the containment measures implemented by governments. Yet security forces are using disproportionate force when dealing with members of the public, including through aggression and other forms of public humiliation," says an IA statement.
The document notes that there are reports of abuses of force by authorities in Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In Mozambique, the IA cites the Mozambican television station STV, which "reported cases of police officers accused of taking advantage of the state of emergency" to break into shops and steal property.
On Angola, the non-governmental organization (NGO) speaks of "several incidents of police violence" since the security forces were put on the streets to ensure compliance with the rules decreed by the government and which began on 27 March.
"Seven men were arrested while they were travelling to buy food at a market in Cabinda on 4 April. The men have been gradually released since 5 April," adds the IA.
The NGO also points out that in Zambia "police were seen indiscriminately assaulting people on the streets, including in bars, after they were discovered in public".
According to the Zambian police spokesperson, the security force had adopted a strategy of "beating" and "arresting" anyone found on the streets.
Already in Zimbabwe, AI says police officers raided a market in Mutare during the morning of April 3, "causing more than 300 vegetable vendors to flee and leave their produce behind.
"The police carried out the invasion despite the fact that the agricultural sector was marked as an essential service during the 21 days of confinement, which means that the market could continue to serve people who need to buy food," the statement adds.
The IA notes that the police burned the vegetables and that the vendors have not yet been compensated for the damage.
