Zimbabwe - Incidences of Politically Motivated Violations Of Human Rights: ZPP

Matabeleland South Province witnessed a marginal increase in the number politically motivated violations from five cases in October to eight during the month under review. The majority of the violations were centred on the two factions of the MDC with counter cases of defections of supporters from one party to the other.

A group of MDC-T supporters allegedly harassed and intimidated activists from the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube at Wabayi Village in Gwanda North. The victims were insulted for having pasted posters of their party around Sofa Business Centre on November 19, 2011.

Jabulani Sibanda continued to hold forced meetings in the province and on November 11, 2011 villagers were forced to attend one of his Zanu Pf meetings at Mzimuni Village, in Gwanda North. Sibanda allegedly told the villagers to dissociate themselves with the MDC and threatened to take stern action against those who wish to remain members of the "opposition".

Police officers from Beitbridge East allegedly arrested and detained for four days a committee member of the MDC-T from Dulibadzimu Township. The victim claims that he was heavily assaulted while in police custody as the police wanted to force a confession that he stole a tent. After his release, the victim was treated for injuries at his workplace.

The political situation in Matabeleland North Province remained calm with only five incidents having been recorded during the month of November. However political activities have been very high with the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube holding political rallies in Nkayi North, Tsholotsho South and Bubi constituencies.

Zanu PF also moved in to campaign in the province ahead of the party's national conference in Bulawayo. The party also distributed farming inputs around the province and the disturbing issue was that the maize seed bags that were being distributed had President Mugabe's picture pasted on them.

An MDC-T activist was allegedly harassed and assaulted by a group of unknown man at Chinonge in Binga South Constituency. The victim was accused of playing a Morgan Tsvangirai song on his mobile phone on November 5, 2011.

Although the number of politically motivated human rights violations remained low in Bulawayo Province, the political situation was very tense in the build up to the Zanu PF national conference which was scheduled for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds in December.

Zanu PF members and officials were moving around Pelandaba and Mpopoma suburbs forcing people to buy Zanu PF membership cards as well as register in order to benefit from the government farming inputs scheme. On December 6, 2011 a resident of Pelandaba was advised by Zanu PF officials who were on a door to door campaign to bring her national identity card and a US$2 for the purchase of a party card.

The period also saw human rights defenders being targeted by political party activists when an officer from CIVNET was harassed and threatened by a suspected Zanu PF youth. The Zanu PF youths later disrupted a CIVNET workshop by forcing some of the participants to attend a Zanu PF meeting that was being held at Pumula Old Hall. The workshop was being held at St Bernard's Church Hall on December 12, 2011.

A Zanu PF supporter was allegedly manhandled by two suspected MDC-T youths who accused the victim of being a spy in Mahatshula Suburb. The incident happened on November 13, 2011 at Glengarry Shopping Centre where the victim was threatened with assault by the perpetrators who also took away and burnt campaign posters which were meant to be distributed to Zanu PF supporters.

Manicaland Province remained with the highest number of violations during the month under review with state security agents leading the perpetrators chart. Despite there being international conventions against torture, security details still torture citizens. Three cases of torture where reported and some other cases show the security agents and in particular serving members of the army have been witnessed campaigning for Zanu PF and threatening citizens at will in the province.

At Marange Business centre, a former soldier was reportedly abducted by three suspected CIO agents led by one Arnold Gweshe who took him to Domboshawa institute where they severely assaulted him using sticks, booted feet and fists all over the body. The victim was assaulted under the feet (falanga) and had his face covered with a plastic bag and accused of having deserted the army to work in Chiadzwa diamond mine fields.

In another related incident some two police officers allegedly arrested, detained, assaulted and tortured an MDC-T activist and his 13 year old son at Chegore village in Mutare North. The victims were accused of stealing a solar panel belonging to one of the police officers' girlfriend. Victims reportedly were assaulted all over their bodies using baton sticks and booted feet. They were also hung face down on a 'chitigu' and assaulted under their feet in an effort to cause them to confess to the crime. The victims reportedly spent two days without food.

At Matongo business centre in Mutare West, an aide to Shuah Mudiwa the Member of Parliament for the area was reportedly severely assaulted by a group of police officers who pounced on him while he bought some groceries. Although, the victim reported his case to the police at Bambazonke RRB-1139852, no one has been arrested or questioned regarding the same.

Traditional leaders in the province continued to show their partisan support for Zanu PF during the month under review in a clear violation of the Global Political Agreement Article XIV which calls for traditional leaders to ensure political neutrality.

Chief Gilbert Marange reportedly harassed an employee of Manicaland Development Association (MDA) together with Justin Marange, the local councilor (MDC-T) as they discussed developmental issues. Gilbert Marange is reported to have threatened to bar MDA from operating in Marange area for holding "unsanctioned meetings".

In Mutasa North, war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda reportedly gathered about thirty five traditional leaders at Hauna on the 18th of November 2011 where he demanded that they register all Zanu PF and MDC-T members on separate registers so that corrective measures will be taken against the MDC-T members in the near future.

There was a significant jump in incidents of politically motivated human rights violations in Mashonaland Central Province from 56 witnessed in October to 116 recorded during the month under review. The jump can be attributed to a lot of intra-party fighting within Zanu PF which was restructuring its structures ahead of the party's national conference.

The majority of the violations were of harassment and intimidation with 81 incidents having been recorded and 9 cases of assault.

The month under review also saw known and suspected MDC-T activists losing their agricultural land in Muzarabani North and Mt Darwin. On November 24, 2011, Zanu PF supporters invaded a field belonging to an MDC-T activist at Chiwenga Village in Muzarabani North and handed it over to a Zanu PF member.

Police officers from Muzarabani North constituency disrupted an MDC-T smeeting which was scheduled to take place at Mudoka Village on November 5, 2011. This is despite the fact that the meeting had allegedly been booked and cleared by the same police officers. The police did not give any reason for disrupting the meeting.

An MDC-T supporter from Muzarabani South was issued with an eviction letter to vacate his homestead by the village head of Karuma Village and Chief Kasekete. The victim was accused of being a member of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights).

There was also a significant rise in incidents of politically motivated human rights violations in Mashonaland East Province where a total of 83 cases having been recorded up from 51 witnessed during the month of October. Zanu PF supporters have been recorded to be now in a campaign mood and political activities have increased in the province hence the increase in violations.

The province witnessed one incident of politically motivated rape when a school girl was allegedly raped by a member of the Chipangano militia from Harare. The youth militias from Mbare were allegedly invited to the province by a senior Zanu PF official to push for indigenisation in Maramba Pfungwe. A form two student from Dindi Secondary School was allegedly raped twice at a base near the school. The case was reported to the police, which led to the arrest of the suspect who was remanded in prison at Murehwa Centre.

Two traditional leaders from the province are on the verge of losing their posts after being accused of being MDC-T sympathisers. Moment Murape, a sub-chief from Goromonzi West is being forced to step down on the pretext that his term of office has expired. The move is being led by the acting District Administrator for Goromonzi District. The sub-chief is being accused of having denied Zanu PF supporters an opportunity to use a hall in Ward 4, Goromonzi West Constituency.

Inter party violence continued in the province on November 12, 2011 when a group of five strong men believed to be MDC-T activists assaulted the Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee chairperson in Goromonzi. The victim was driving along Mutare road when an Isuzu truck without number plates blocked his way at the Goromonzi turn-off forcing him to stop. The victim was assaulted using booted feet and sticks and warned to stop harassing and intimidating people.

Politically motivated violations were also on an upward trend in Mashonaland West Province with 80 incidents having been recorded up from the 60 witnessed during the month of October. The majority of the cases have been of harassment and intimidation with the main victims being members of the MDC-T party.

The major issue that saw people's rights being violated was the distribution of farming inputs from President Mugabe. The 10 kg bags of maize seed that were being distributed had President Mugabe's portrait pasted on them in Mhondoro Ngezi, Chegutu West, Chinhoyi, Mhangura and Makonde constituencies.

Zanu PF youths from Muzvezve constituency were reportedly harassing mine workers at Rio Tinto claiming that the mine was due for take-over by blacks in the indigenisation drive. From Sanyati, Zanu PF youths attempted to disrupt an MDC-T women's assembly meeting arguing that the area was a Zanu PF stronghold. However, the police had to intervene as the meeting was duly cleared by the police in terms of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). There were also incidents of assault that were reported in the province the majority of victims being MDC-T activists. In Mhondoro Ngezi, an MDC-T supporter was assaulted after commenting that Zanu PF could have put a better candidate for the party provincial chairmanship race other than Bright Matonga. The case was reported to the police and the perpetrator was made to pay a fine of US$20.

Intra-party violence was also recorded within Zanu PF and the MDC-T. For Zanu PF the violations were witnessed as the party struggled to resolve the provincial leadership wrangle before the national conference in Bulawayo while the infighting within the MDC-T had to do with transfer of power from the past leaders to new leaders endorsed during the April 2011 congress.

The Midlands Province witnessed a dip in incidents of politically motivated human rights violations during the month under review to 77 cases from the 92 witnessed during the month of October. Incidents of harassment and intimidation topped the violations with cases of assault continuing on a downward trend.

An MDC-T supporter was severely assaulted by Zanu PF supporters near Mkonto Mine in Zhombe. The incident happened after the Zanu PF youths had gone around villages calling everyone to attend a rally in the area. The victim was asked to show his allegiance to the party by producing his party card which he failed to do leading to him being assaulted.

An MDC-T activist from Mberengwa was assaulted by Zanu PF supporters after being spotted holding a portrait for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai near Vhumukwane Primary School. The Zanu PF supporters accused the victim of being a sell-out.

The majority of victims from the province had their rights violated for refusing to attend Zanu PF meetings, failure to produce Zanu PF party cards as well as putting on MDC-T tshirts. As has been in the past eight months the violations were concentrated in Mberengwa, Kwekwe, Zvishavane and Gokwe districts.

Masvingo Province witnessed a massive decline in the number of politically motivated human rights violations during the month under review. There were 56 incidents recorded in November compared to the 126 cases recorded during the month of October. The reason

for the decline could be attributed to the beginning of the rainy season and that the Zanu PF supporters and officials were busy preparing for the Zanu PF conference in Bulawayo.

Of the 56 incidents of politically motivated human rights violations, 42 cases were of harassment and intimidation while eight were of discrimination where villagers were denied food aid on the basis of their political party affiliation.

ZPP monitors witnessed that the Presidential farming input scheme was being distributed on a partisan basis where only Zanu PF supporters were benefiting. The 10 KG bags of maize seed from Pannar had Presidnet Robert Mugabe's face pasted on them from a distribution exercise that was carried out in Masvingo Urban Constituency.

Teachers continued to be target of political violence in the province with several members of the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA) found at the receiving end. In one incident, about five teachers out of 15 beneficiaries from Guiding Star Primary School in Rutenga had their residential stands repossessed by the lands officer who is also a known Zanu PF supporter. The stands were purchased in 2007 at Rutenga from the contributions they made to ZIMTA. The victims however feel that they are being targeted because they are suspected of being MDC-T activists.

A Mwenenzi man was arrested and detained overnight by members of the CIO who accused him of having insulted President Robert Mugabe and took him away for questioning. The victim allegedly made comment to the effect that President Mugabe was now old and that other countries had changed leadership many times while watching news at Rutenga Night Club on November 14, 2011. While in the hands of the CIO, the victim was asked to write his life history, which political party he belonged to before being handed over to the police.

The victim was formerly charged with insulting the authority of the President at Mwenezi Magistrate Courts where he successfully applied for bail ($50) and he will appear again in court for routine remand on December 14, 2011.

Despite heavy violence that rocked Chitungwiza at the beginning of the month of November, Harare Province saw a decline in incidents of politically motivated human rights violations to 30 from 54 witnessed during the month of October. Most of the constituencies enjoyed peace for the greater part of the month except for Zengeza East, St. Marys and Mabvuku – Tafara constituencies.

Police officers have been reported to be continuing in their selective application of the law by harassing and disrupting MDC-T meetings while Zanu PF hold meetings at will especially before the peace meetings by the political parties on November 14, 2011. In most of the reported cases Zanu PF were the perpetrators, MDC-T and other people whose political affiliation is unknown were the majority of victims.

Partisan distribution of maize seed and fertilizers has been reported in Dzivarasekwa and Highfield East constituencies. The farming inputs were from the president's office and were being distributed to Zanu PF supporters only.

Two MDC-T supporters were seriously injured after being kidnapped by suspected members of the Chipangano militia group on their way to the aborted MDC-T rally at Chibuku Stadium

in Chitungwiza. The two were found three hours later dumped at the Manyame Dam water works after going through heavy beatings.

The province witnessed one case of rape where a war veteran and Zanu PF supporter allegedly assaulted and raped his two daughters, aged 16years and 13years after having seen them talking to a known MDC-T activist at house number 2815 Unit C. The matter was reported to the police but no arrest has been made so far.

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The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) was conceived shortly after 2000 by a group of Churches and NGOs working or interested in human rights and peace-building initiatives, and was to become a vehicle for civic interventions in a time of political crisis. In particular ZPP sought to monitor and document incidents of human rights violations and politically motivated breaches of the peace e.g. violence. Today, ZPP's member organizations include, Catholic Commission for Justice & Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ) Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), Counselling Services Unit (CSU), Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET), Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS), Civic Education Network Trust (CIVNET), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ).

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Sustainable Justice, Freedom, Peace and Development in Zimbabwe, for All.

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To work for sustainable Peace through Monitoring, Documentation, Research & Publications, and Community Peace Building Interventions ~ through & with our Members & Partners