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Human rights violations escalate as 2018 election fever grips Zimbabwe
02 Jul 2017 at 07:04hrs | Views
Heal Zimbabwe said it has recorded a total of 27 human rights violations from 13 districts from the 9th - 28th of June 2017.
The trust said the recorded human rights violations fall into 5 distinct categories that include intimidation with threats of violence or threats of withdrawal of food aid or agricultural inputs, unfair food aid distribution, arson, assault and forced participation (in political meetings, Financial or material contributions).
"Residents in Chiwundura also faced a violation peculiar to their community only because of the impending by election that is people being forced to go register to vote. Intimidation continues to top the list of human rights violations in local communities with 48% (13 cases) recorded this period, followed by forced participation in political gatherings with 34% (9 cases), unfair distribution of food aid and resources 7% (2 cases) assault 7% (2 cases) and arson 4% (1 case). Intimidation and forced contributions or participation in political gatherings dominate the majority of the violations, largely attributed to the fact that the perpetrators are harvesting from fear of past human rights violations notably the 2008 political violence," said trust.
"Another factor contributing to the high number of intimidation cases and forced participation in political gatherings (5 Cases) is the pending Chiwundura by election that is to be conducted on the 15th of July 2017. The continued intimidation and harassment particularly of known opposition members is likely to intensify as the nation approaches the 2018 national elections."
The trust said in view of the above distribution of violations within the observed 13 Districts, intimidation remain a concern with 13 cases recorded in 9 Districts save for Sanyati, Makonde, Gokwe South, Masvingo and Insiza.
"Forced contributions registered a total of nine cases with Mutare urban, Muzarabani North and Chiwundura recording two cases each whilst Masvingo, Hurungwe and Makonde registered one case each. The recurrence of intimidation is a clear indication that it will intensify as the elections draw closer. The perpetrators are largely ZANU PF local leadership at the community level, village heads and councillors," said the trust.
"These perpetrators take advantage of past human rights violations in the previous 2008, and 2013 elections. The perpetrators are largely harvesting from fear as they continue to target the same victims who are largely opposition supporters whom they continually threaten and remind of past violent episodes. In this regard, Heal Zimbabwe notes that the increased levels of fear compromise communities' participation in civic and other democratic processes."
Heal Zimbabwe's objective under its early warning and early response department is to monitor, detect, document and respond to cases of human rights violations in order to ensure protection and assistance of victims of human rights violations so that they are able to access justice and requisite psycho-social services.
One of the cases the organisation followed up was from Sanyati where a victim was assaulted by ZANU PF supporters. On the 25th of June 2017, MDC chairperson for ward 8 Cosmas Katsuro in Sanyati village 9 was heavily assaulted by ZANU PF supporters identified as Tonderai Wadesango, William Ruzvidzo, Emmanuel Ruzvidzo, Brighton Ruzvidzo and Patrick Musona for wearing an MDC T regalia.
"The victim was watching a community soccer match at Jompani Business centre in village 9. Tonderai Wadesango, who claimed to be the provincial chairperson for ZANU PF called and compelled the victim to burn his party regalia. The victim burnt the regalia and went back to watch soccer, he then met a group of people who forced him to leave the soccer field," said the trust.
"He argued that he wanted to watch the match since he had agreed to burn his regalia but it landed on deaf ears as William Ruzvidzo, Brighton Ruzvidzo, Emanuel Ruzvidzo and Patrick Musona started assaulting him. The matter was reported to the Sanyati ARDA police station and the case was recorded under docket RRB2039782 by Sergeant Charamba but no arrests were made leading to Heal Zimbabwe referring Mr Katsuro to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) for legal assistance. He is also currently receiving treatment at a local institution. All the 27 cases recorded by HZT during this period were forwarded to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), which has the constitutional obligation to protect and promote human rights in the country."
Heal Zimbabwe noted with great concern the recurrence of intimidation in rural communities.
The trust said the intimidation is largely been committed by ZANU PF local leadership such as cell, ward and district chairpersons and traditional leaders such as village heads and councillors.
"The increase in cases has also been exacerbated by the impending by election in Chiwundura Constituency. Heal Zimbabwe will continuously monitor and offer rapid response assistance to victims if need arises," said the trust.
The trust said the recorded human rights violations fall into 5 distinct categories that include intimidation with threats of violence or threats of withdrawal of food aid or agricultural inputs, unfair food aid distribution, arson, assault and forced participation (in political meetings, Financial or material contributions).
"Residents in Chiwundura also faced a violation peculiar to their community only because of the impending by election that is people being forced to go register to vote. Intimidation continues to top the list of human rights violations in local communities with 48% (13 cases) recorded this period, followed by forced participation in political gatherings with 34% (9 cases), unfair distribution of food aid and resources 7% (2 cases) assault 7% (2 cases) and arson 4% (1 case). Intimidation and forced contributions or participation in political gatherings dominate the majority of the violations, largely attributed to the fact that the perpetrators are harvesting from fear of past human rights violations notably the 2008 political violence," said trust.
"Another factor contributing to the high number of intimidation cases and forced participation in political gatherings (5 Cases) is the pending Chiwundura by election that is to be conducted on the 15th of July 2017. The continued intimidation and harassment particularly of known opposition members is likely to intensify as the nation approaches the 2018 national elections."
The trust said in view of the above distribution of violations within the observed 13 Districts, intimidation remain a concern with 13 cases recorded in 9 Districts save for Sanyati, Makonde, Gokwe South, Masvingo and Insiza.
"Forced contributions registered a total of nine cases with Mutare urban, Muzarabani North and Chiwundura recording two cases each whilst Masvingo, Hurungwe and Makonde registered one case each. The recurrence of intimidation is a clear indication that it will intensify as the elections draw closer. The perpetrators are largely ZANU PF local leadership at the community level, village heads and councillors," said the trust.
"These perpetrators take advantage of past human rights violations in the previous 2008, and 2013 elections. The perpetrators are largely harvesting from fear as they continue to target the same victims who are largely opposition supporters whom they continually threaten and remind of past violent episodes. In this regard, Heal Zimbabwe notes that the increased levels of fear compromise communities' participation in civic and other democratic processes."
One of the cases the organisation followed up was from Sanyati where a victim was assaulted by ZANU PF supporters. On the 25th of June 2017, MDC chairperson for ward 8 Cosmas Katsuro in Sanyati village 9 was heavily assaulted by ZANU PF supporters identified as Tonderai Wadesango, William Ruzvidzo, Emmanuel Ruzvidzo, Brighton Ruzvidzo and Patrick Musona for wearing an MDC T regalia.
"The victim was watching a community soccer match at Jompani Business centre in village 9. Tonderai Wadesango, who claimed to be the provincial chairperson for ZANU PF called and compelled the victim to burn his party regalia. The victim burnt the regalia and went back to watch soccer, he then met a group of people who forced him to leave the soccer field," said the trust.
"He argued that he wanted to watch the match since he had agreed to burn his regalia but it landed on deaf ears as William Ruzvidzo, Brighton Ruzvidzo, Emanuel Ruzvidzo and Patrick Musona started assaulting him. The matter was reported to the Sanyati ARDA police station and the case was recorded under docket RRB2039782 by Sergeant Charamba but no arrests were made leading to Heal Zimbabwe referring Mr Katsuro to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) for legal assistance. He is also currently receiving treatment at a local institution. All the 27 cases recorded by HZT during this period were forwarded to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), which has the constitutional obligation to protect and promote human rights in the country."
Heal Zimbabwe noted with great concern the recurrence of intimidation in rural communities.
The trust said the intimidation is largely been committed by ZANU PF local leadership such as cell, ward and district chairpersons and traditional leaders such as village heads and councillors.
"The increase in cases has also been exacerbated by the impending by election in Chiwundura Constituency. Heal Zimbabwe will continuously monitor and offer rapid response assistance to victims if need arises," said the trust.
Source - Byo24News
