News / National
Zanu PF dominates human rights violations record
08 Sep 2017 at 07:38hrs | Views
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Zimbabwe Peace Project has reported that the ruling Zanu PF is on the top of the record in the commission of human rights violations in the country.
ZPP said the majority perpetrators of human rights violations in August are associated with Zanu PF in one way or the other 81,2% of the reported cases.
"The opposition MDC-T was responsible for 5,9% of the cases. Security agents that include the police, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) were responsible for a combined 11,4%. War veterans have not featured prominently as perpetrators in the last few months. This may be due to the falling out of the war veterans body with the ruling Zanu PF party," said ZPP.
"Out of the 8 intra-party cases of violence recorded in August, 7 were recorded in the ruling Zanu PF party while only one case was recorded in the opposition MDC-T. This may be due to the factional succession battles playing out in the ruling party, which have degenerated into open conflict heightened during this month by accusations of 'poisoning' Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a youth interface rally in Gwanda. It is possible there might have been more than one case of conflict within the MDC-T as for most of the other cases there have been hushed voices and could manifest to haunt the party in the future."
ZPP said freedom of expression came under attack as political activists were arrested for expressing their opinions on social media or harassed for donning regalia that was seen as poking fun at the 'first family'.
"Section (61) of the constitution says every person has the right to freedom of expression which includes freedom of artistic expression and scientific research, creativity. The arrest of war veteran Victor Matemadanda, which he believes was triggered by a T-shirt ridiculed First Lady Grace Mugabe is an affront to freedom of expression. Another Zanu PF supporter Energy Mutodi was also picked up by police for expressing his opinion on Facebook. He was subsequently beaten up by known Zanu PF activists while on bail," said ZPP.
"Intra-party violence was also recorded in the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) when Vice President Thokozani Khupe and other party stalwarts in Bulawayo had their meeting disrupted by party youths who were unhappy with her decision to stay away from the MDC Alliance signing ceremony. Violence erupted and Khupe had to seek medical attention. Some high ranking party official celebrated the political intolerance and attack on Khupe and party president Morgan Tsvangirai subsequently suspended party members who were implicated."
ZPP said Heroes Day Commemorations were not a cause for celebration for many people as they found themselves being ordered to bankroll the festivities against their will.
"The commemorations which are supposed to be national events have been usurped by ruling party activists who take the opportunity to mobilise for their party and in the process intimidated and harassed unwilling citizens. Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs said they do not have a policy of fundraising for national events from citizens. However, there were reports that in schools and other government departments civil servants were ordered to contribute as memos went round asking civil servants to contribute for the celebrations," said ZPP.
"Factional ruptures also manifested themselves at the National Heroes Acre when Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was heckled by alleged Lacoste faction supporters who did not want the Vice President to officiate at Shuvai Mahofa's funeral. Tempers flared after Mahofa was said to have been poisoned at the party national conference in Victoria Falls in 2015. Accusations and counter accusations disrupted the funeral wake of the late Mahofa believed to be an ally of Vice President Mnangagwa. The ZPP is apprehensive this state of affairs does not bode well for the 2018 in the horizon unless resolved."
The organisation said there was conflict between police and soldiers in Harare on 1 August. Police released a press statement saying the security forces enjoy good relations and the matter would be investigated.
"President Mugabe also expressed regret over the issue on Heroes Day. A number of reasons have been put forward for the clash. Some believe traffic police had put a spike on a vehicle belonging to a soldier. Police and soldiers have been known to run transport businesses in the CBD, which the police commissioner has admitted to in the past. Sometimes they fight for lucrative pick up points and touts told ZPP that they pay protection fees to some members of the security forces and this might have been the reason for the violence that ensued," said ZPP.
ZPP said the majority perpetrators of human rights violations in August are associated with Zanu PF in one way or the other 81,2% of the reported cases.
"The opposition MDC-T was responsible for 5,9% of the cases. Security agents that include the police, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) were responsible for a combined 11,4%. War veterans have not featured prominently as perpetrators in the last few months. This may be due to the falling out of the war veterans body with the ruling Zanu PF party," said ZPP.
"Out of the 8 intra-party cases of violence recorded in August, 7 were recorded in the ruling Zanu PF party while only one case was recorded in the opposition MDC-T. This may be due to the factional succession battles playing out in the ruling party, which have degenerated into open conflict heightened during this month by accusations of 'poisoning' Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a youth interface rally in Gwanda. It is possible there might have been more than one case of conflict within the MDC-T as for most of the other cases there have been hushed voices and could manifest to haunt the party in the future."
ZPP said freedom of expression came under attack as political activists were arrested for expressing their opinions on social media or harassed for donning regalia that was seen as poking fun at the 'first family'.
"Section (61) of the constitution says every person has the right to freedom of expression which includes freedom of artistic expression and scientific research, creativity. The arrest of war veteran Victor Matemadanda, which he believes was triggered by a T-shirt ridiculed First Lady Grace Mugabe is an affront to freedom of expression. Another Zanu PF supporter Energy Mutodi was also picked up by police for expressing his opinion on Facebook. He was subsequently beaten up by known Zanu PF activists while on bail," said ZPP.
"Intra-party violence was also recorded in the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) when Vice President Thokozani Khupe and other party stalwarts in Bulawayo had their meeting disrupted by party youths who were unhappy with her decision to stay away from the MDC Alliance signing ceremony. Violence erupted and Khupe had to seek medical attention. Some high ranking party official celebrated the political intolerance and attack on Khupe and party president Morgan Tsvangirai subsequently suspended party members who were implicated."
ZPP said Heroes Day Commemorations were not a cause for celebration for many people as they found themselves being ordered to bankroll the festivities against their will.
"The commemorations which are supposed to be national events have been usurped by ruling party activists who take the opportunity to mobilise for their party and in the process intimidated and harassed unwilling citizens. Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs said they do not have a policy of fundraising for national events from citizens. However, there were reports that in schools and other government departments civil servants were ordered to contribute as memos went round asking civil servants to contribute for the celebrations," said ZPP.
"Factional ruptures also manifested themselves at the National Heroes Acre when Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was heckled by alleged Lacoste faction supporters who did not want the Vice President to officiate at Shuvai Mahofa's funeral. Tempers flared after Mahofa was said to have been poisoned at the party national conference in Victoria Falls in 2015. Accusations and counter accusations disrupted the funeral wake of the late Mahofa believed to be an ally of Vice President Mnangagwa. The ZPP is apprehensive this state of affairs does not bode well for the 2018 in the horizon unless resolved."
The organisation said there was conflict between police and soldiers in Harare on 1 August. Police released a press statement saying the security forces enjoy good relations and the matter would be investigated.
"President Mugabe also expressed regret over the issue on Heroes Day. A number of reasons have been put forward for the clash. Some believe traffic police had put a spike on a vehicle belonging to a soldier. Police and soldiers have been known to run transport businesses in the CBD, which the police commissioner has admitted to in the past. Sometimes they fight for lucrative pick up points and touts told ZPP that they pay protection fees to some members of the security forces and this might have been the reason for the violence that ensued," said ZPP.
Source - Byo24News
