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OVERVIEW Introduction This Report analyses politically
motivated and food-related human rights violations in the run up to the 27 June
run-off of 2008. Since the release of the ZPP Post Election Violence Report No.2
of May 2008 which had, among other things, postulated an escalation in election
violence, questions have arisen about the extent to which these postulations
have remained consistent with unfolding scenarios in the run up to the June
election. Also of interest is how this presidential run-off [the first of its
kind in Zimbabwe’s post independence electoral history] will influence trends
and patterns of violence. In the wake of the 4th of June 2008 Government Order suspending the operations of a number of nonprofit food aid agencies [CARE, Save the Children] until after the 27 June 2008, interest has also arisen about the possibility of food politics in the election campaign. This interest is well-founded given that people in rural areas have three main ways of accessing maize, namely through government food for work program, buying it directly from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), and through donor schemes for school pupils and the under fives- sources that are vulnerable to political manipulation. Trends and Patterns Since January there has been an exponential increase in human rights violations. A shocking total of 16 400 cases were recorded with 593 in January, 685 in February, 806 in March, 4375 in April, 6288 in May, 3653 in June. While June records suggests a drop in incidents of violence, much should not be read from this drop as the nature of violence has sharply swung towards fatal forms of violence with 77 murder cases having been reported across the country by end of June, an almost double increase from the May record of 47. The table below portrays cumulative trends in violations since January: Cumulative Human Rights Violations: January-June 2008 CUMULATIVE VIOLATIONS TABLE 2008
The nature of injuries sustained by victims of violence reveal chilling features characterized by lacerations, head injuries, gun-shot wounds/stabs, rib, leg, and arm fractures, severe burns, and severe tissue injuries-a poignant signal of possible increase in the use of knives, fire, sharp weapons, guns, metal rods, knobkerries and logs. These developments also suggest visible shift to terror tactics rather than the traditional political re-education. Recurring experiences across the
ten provinces reflect growing concern with increases in reports of night visits
and abductions, torture, malicious damage to property, murder, evictions and
rape. Narratives from victims point to unnerving cases of assaults with hammer
on genital areas, sexual abuse, beating with hot metal rods, kicking
of
fire, people
who had hot coals poured on their back, people beaten while hung upside down,
among other cases. The organization of post election
violence has also visibly shifted from mere coordinated and organized violence
to heavy military-style-retributive violence against known and unknown
opposition characterized by brazen coercion, intimidation, beating and torching
of houses and homesteads. The ferocity with which victims were targeted has no
parallels other than those akin to a war situation. In both rural and urban areas,
the run-up campaign was relegated to a witch-hunting orgy characterized by
sniffing for the presence of anything humanly, material or thought-wise that is
directly and indirectly related the opposition politics. On the 2nd of June 2008, one Godfrey Shoko was severely
assaulted in a shop in Mberengwa District Centre for allegedly “looking angrily”
at the portrait of President Mugabe. While initially election violence
had an individual focus, by June, election
violence had visibly assumed a collective and national focus- with the Zimbabwean
electorate at large threatened with war if they do not “vote correctly”-
a ruling party euphemism for voting for the ruling party candidate. In fact by
the polling day, threats of war had become a publicly adopted campaign tactic
with its echoes reverberating in new party slogans, party songs and public
pronouncements. Threats of war resonated from the top leadership down to the
grass-root structures of the ruling party. While in May election violence
had sought to induce fear in the ordinary MDC supporter, June election violence,
in military-style, looked set to disable, maim, and suffocate the opposition
campaign framework. The month of June witnessed upshots in cases of abduction
and unlawful arrests of opposition elect MPs and councillors, polling agents and
monitors. By the time of the run- off, close to 20 MDC MPs and councillors were
reportedly arrested for alleged political violence. Structures that were also viewed
as indirectly oiling or giving oxygen to MDC structures were raided, their
infrastructure impounded. A number of human rights organizations were raided and
placed under an indefinite operational blanket ban. Liberation-style ‘pungwes’
[1], initially restricted to the
rural areas had by the time of the run-off become part and parcel of life in
most urban high density areas with reports in Epworth and other high density
areas of residents who spent the election eve at these pungwes and in the
morning commandeered to polling stations. In Harare ruling party youths roam
both city and residential areas, harassing the public with impunity.
In rural areas, villagers were
reportedly forced to report at the base three times a day, at 6am, 1 pm and at 8
pm. Villagers were also asked to make a contribution of up to $5 billion with
businesspersons contributing $20 billion dollars in some areas. Freedom of movement was curtailed
with villagers being asked to carry passes and other authorizing letters if they
intend to visit another village. Un-official curfews were set up and those not
attending meetings were expected to explain themselves. A
number of bases that were set up in the pre-election period are still
operational with reports of people being assaulted like what was happening
before the election. By early June 2008 post election violence had reportedly transformed into a highly retributive violence with the army, ruling party militia, war veterans and CIO operatives abusing human rights with an impunity that was not even witnessed during the legendary war of liberation. Cases of houses being petrol
bombed were recorded in early June. On 4th
June, MDC offices in Jerera Masvingo were reportedly bombed at around 3 am and
two people died. By
2nd June, Gweru residents had been
subjected to new versions of fear-inducing antics which saw ZANU PF supporters’
toyi-toying within Gweru city centre, jet
planes flying around the city and vehicles with water cannons strategically
parked. The election violence dragnet
also roped in directors and managers of parastatals. ZBC went through a major
shake-up which saw the firing of the Chief Executive Officer and a number of
managers, reportedly for mishandling the coverage of the election campaign.
Directors, Managers at ZISCO and Hwange Colliery were reportedly placed under
political pressure to ensure they tell their subordinates to vote wisely in the
presidential run-off or risk loss of their jobs if the opposition wins. Some
ZESA and Hwange Colliery employees who had contested for councilor posts under
an MDC ticket were either transferred or forced to resign. On
4 June, police officers in the Midlands were reportedly asked to register their
wives and children aged 18 and above as polling officers, reportedly in a bid to
manipulate the vote in the form of a postal vote for all those who will be
polling agents. Mid June saw food politics
worming its way into election campaign
processes with government on 4th June
ordering a number of nonprofit food aid agencies [CARE, Save the Children] to
suspend distribution of food until after the 27 June 2008 accusing them of using
food to undermine the government - a decision that generated much dust with
fears that it was going to leave millions [especially children in schools,
orphanages and the elderly in nursing homes] in drought-hit areas
starving.
Displacements which had initially
featured mostly in rural areas had on the eve of the run off become a common
feature in most urban areas. In Mbare, a virtually no go area for the
opposition, there were distressing reports of evictions [displacements] of
suspected MDC residents from their Mbare rooms. In most high density areas,
residents were reportedly forced to go for ZANU PF night and day party meetings.
An MDC rally scheduled to be held in Harare on 22 June 2008 was reportedly
disrupted by ruling party supporters, with heavy beating of MDC supporters and
local and regional observers, all in full glare of the police! In Mashonaland East, on 15th June 2008, vehicles travelling to Nyamapanda
border post were reportedly stopped by war veterans who asked passengers to
alight from the vehicles and attend a ZANU PF meeting. The meeting was held at
Chikondoma Stadium at Mutoko centre in preparation for the President Mugabe’s
rally on 18th of June 2008. Villagers were
informed that all persons with names appearing in the Herald as election agents
would “disappear at night one by one”. The war veterans were using a Mitsubishi
truck and another written C.A.M without number plates. Human rights abuse is
increasingly becoming inhumane and immoral with disturbing cases of known or
suspected HIV patients being denied access to their monthly courses. On the polling day, voters were
told to submit their ballot serial numbers, an outright abuse of voter secrecy.
In Gwanda South on June 27, people were reportedly forced to go and vote at
Bango primary school. It was also alleged that even those who were not
registered as voters had to cast their votes in the company of the village head
who was mandated with the responsibility of going to the polling station with
all his subjects. Also disquieting were increases
in reports of literate people [mostly teachers] being forced to profess
illiteracy. Suspected opposition, human rights activists and teachers were
expected to repent and that repentance had to be demonstrated by feigning
illiteracy on the polling day and seeking assistance from polling officers,
comprising mostly of ZANU PF youths and so called war veterans. A teacher from
Sadza, who observed the elections under ZESN, reported that he had to be
assisted to vote in his own classroom which was being used as a polling station.
He even reported that the last essay he had done with the class was still on the
board, yet on the voting day he had to profess illiteracy. The post run-off era was also
greeted with a new type of human rights violation code named show the red finger [mark of the
indelible ink] as a strategy to detect those who had not voted. Not having voted
in the 27 June election was akin to endorsing the MDC NO VOTE campaign. At
Hopley farm in Harare, by 28 June, a witch-hunt for those who voted for the MDC
had started with reports that those suspected to have voted for the MDC and
spoiling ballots lost their lodgings. People who were found without the red
finger were also victimized. In Nyika area, villagers from
Chikunguru village were reportedly beaten on the 30th of June 2008 by ZANU PF youths and war
veterans allegedly to account for 6 votes which were cast for the MDC T
presidential candidate at the local polling station. Traditional leaders-chiefs,
mostly out of fear of retribution have been turned into instruments of political
displacements while local councillors are chief culprits in issues of food
discrimination. PATTERNS AND TRENDS OF
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS Human rights abuse trends
continue to scale new heights. The impunity with which they are perpetrated is
so alarming to the extent that the public have cynically questioned if the 27
June election is a run-off or run-over. Consistent with past trends,
human rights abuses have remained concentrated in the traditional hotspots of
Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Harare, Midlands, Mashonaland East and
Mashonaland Central. Prime targets are those who
participated as polling officers, presiding officers and polling agents in the
29 March harmonized elections. People are forced to attend pungwes, forced to
denounce their support to the opposition, assaulted for celebrating March
election victories, beaten for failing to produce ruling party cards and
chanting the latest ZANU PF slogans and for failing to show the red finger,
among others. While these abuses were initially restricted to the rural areas,
by the eve of the run–off, they had become common features of urban life, day
and night. In most provinces, bases that were set up in the pre-election period
are still operational. In
stark contrast to regional and international calls for dialogue and a GNU
between ZANU PF and MDC T- scenarios from the ten provinces indicate that it is
generally business as usual as bases that were set up in the pre-election period
have not been disbanded, the MDC T remaining the prime hunted game. In
the month of June, human rights incidence spread was as shown below: Incidence Analysis by Province
[June]
JUNE 2008
INCIDENT TABLE
Trends and patterns of election
violence as gleaned from June records show that: · There was a significant drop in
gross total recording of violations from their May level of 6288 to 3473 cases-
a statistical scenario that may be suspect given increases in reports of
displacements, abductions, and attacks on election observers and monitors across
the country. As was cautioned in May, we could be facing another case of
declines in access to hot spot provinces rather than a case of declines in
election violence! The possibility of cases going unrecorded cannot be ruled
out.
PROVINCIAL EXPERIENCES Manicaland Consistent with its traditional
record, Manicaland emerged the lead hotspot province with a record of 1173 human
rights violations featuring 7 murder cases, 717 harassment cases, 164 looting
cases, and 51 displacements among others. Hotspot constituencies included Makoni
North, Makoni South, Makoni West, Musikavanhu, Mutare South, Mutasa Central,
Chipinge, and Buhera West. The nature of violence in terms of type, methods,
victims and perpetrators generally take the pattern observed in other
provinces-namely, a disturbing inclination towards fatal forms. On 19 June 2008, the rural home
of Dr Lovemore Madhuku, who is the Chairperson of the National Constitutional
Assembly, was allegedly burnt together with 22 other homes in Chipinge. His
father was reportedly abducted. In Nyazura, Rukweza and Murahwa
villages, villagers were reportedly subjected to a reign of terror by ruling
party activists and war veterans, allegedly for having voted for the MDC in the
area. The fact that some of the perpetrators were in army and police uniform
were scenarios that left villagers with nowhere to report. Perpetrators had
established a base in the village where they were forcing villagers to
contribute chickens, goats and money for their upkeep. The worst affected are known and
suspected MDC members who were coerced to denounce their party and be “born
again” as ZANU PF members. They were asked to pay fines of $20 billion, 5 goats
and two chickens. Failure to pay the fines results in serious beating and
torture. Known or suspected MDC activists had their national identity documents
confiscated. At least 50 goats and thirty chickens had been looted by 20th June. More than forty people, women, men and
youths had been beaten-developments that saw villagers running away from the
area out of fear. On 9 June 2008, two ZANU PF
members [Lovemore Simon and Boniface Chikasha] were reportedly slashed to death
by a machete by an MDC activist named Justin Gundumurwa. The perpetrator was
allegedly retaliating to an earlier attack by a group of ZANU PF activists who
were going about beating people in the Mutambara area. ZANU PF activists had
reportedly destroyed Gundumurwa’s DVDs, a generator and house. In a related
incident, Maxwell Simon, who was attending the funeral of Lovemore Simon was
allegedly attacked by ZANU PF supporters who suspected him to be an MDC member.
Maxwell Simon died from injuries sustained in the attack. On 15 June, Farai
Gombe of Makoni, Rusape [an MDC party official] was reportedly abducted from his
home in Vhengere Township by ZANU PF supporters and shot in the chest, 100 km
from his house. The victim died on the spot. The perpetrators, who are
reportedly well known, four war veterans, are still roaming the
streets. On 20 June 2008, Nyamusosa
residents of Makoni were reportedly denied medical assistance for not attending
ruling party political rallies. On the day in question, ruling party militia
controlling Nyamusosa clinic were allegedly selecting patients by checking their
names on the register. Those whose names did not appear on the register were
reportedly not given treatment, the assumption being that they are into
opposition politics. Reports of partisan treatment were also reported at Weya
clinic in Chiendabuya village, Makoni, where a group of mothers who went to the
clinic with babies for scaling or for BCGs, Polio, DPT and measles treatment,
were allegedly ordered to introduce their ruling party cards first, upon which
service was denied if there was no ruling party card. 10 mothers were reportedly
denied access. In Nyanga on 30 June 2008, at
around 7.30 am, a bus load of police officers reportedly raided Saviour
Chiodza’s home in Mangondoza Township, Nyanga. Chiodza is the chairperson of the
MDC in the area. The police officers were reportedly using an ISUZU bus. Four
gunshots were allegedly fired and thirty four people who were seeking refuge at
Chiodza’s home were arrested and taken to Nyanga police station. The arrested
people are still in police custody. Mashonaland West Mashonaland West reported 1056
cases of human rights violations in June, making it the second hotspot province
in June. As was generally the trend in other provinces, harassment, assault and
kidnapping remain the most highly committed offences in the province. Those who
had participated in the 29 March Election as polling agents, observers,
monitors, or contested as MPs and Councillors remain prime targets. Illegal road blocks and base
camps that were established before the elections are still largely operational,
with reports of suspected ZANU PF supporters moving around informing people that
bases would remain because the vote was not 100% as campaigned for by ZANU
PF. In Fulechi, Hurungwe, since 29
March, war veterans were reportedly forcing villagers to attend daily meetings
at base camps in Hurungwe and Fulechi under Chief Dandawa, allegedly terrorizing
villagers suspected of having voted for the opposition. They reportedly moved
around with registers of those who had acted as polling agents in the area.
Villagers were forced to report at the base every day in the morning, noon and
evening. Headmen were told to prepare a register of names of people living in
their areas and also to bring one bucket of grain and five billion dollars to
the base and punishment was meted out on those who failed to attend. Houses of known and suspected
opposition supporters were targeted. In Banket Township, the house of C.
Chinanzwavana [wife of the MDC councillor for ward 23] was reportedly destroyed
by suspected ZANU PF militia around the mid-morning of 19 June
2008.
Although the
matter was reported to the police, no arrests have reportedly been
made. People in the area were also
reportedly harassed for not attending base meetings. On 9 June Silvia Maruta of
Deve School, Dandawa village was allegedly assaulted for not going to cook at
the introduced base camp. On 14 June, around 20 Rafingora residents were
reportedly attacked at Rafingora Estate by suspected 80-100 ZANU PF militia on
allegations that they are MDC supporters. Although the case was said to have
been reported to the police, arrests are yet to be made. On 9 June, Mr B.
Nyabanze, the headmaster of Saton Mine Secondary school [and also an MDC
activist] was reportedly threatened with death by suspected ZANU PF supporters.
The victim was forced to confess and surrender to the ruling party and upon
refusal, was allegedly given a rope to hang himself on a tree in front of the
school children. A Zimbabwe Election Support
Network Observer (ZESN) observer, Elliot Machipisa, was reportedly murdered by a
group of 20 Zanu PF members including Stella Kaimbwa and Zivanai Mapakati at his
homestead in Karuru, Hurungwe North, during the harmonised elections and was
suspected to be an MDC supporter. The perpetrators beat the victim until he was
conscious and died. Masvingo Masvingo with 13 murder cases led
the provincial murder case race in June. While cases of assaults and
intimidation are widespread, the province has also been home to new versions of
human rights violations where HIV and sick patients reportedly access treatment
at clinics on partisan lines. Denial of Health Services to HIV
patients On 18 June 2008, Susan Mutenha of
Makoni North was reportedly denied access to her July course of tablets for HIV
treatment at Gowakowa Clinic. It is reported that when she introduced her cards
to the nurse on duty, a nurse aid on duty told her that there were no tablets
for anyone from her family because her brother was a strong MDC activist. She
was allegedly ordered to leave the clinic and get tablets from “MDC party
medics”. This system was reportedly also applied to sick patients. Cases of Arson and Evictions MDC elect MPs and Councillors,
polling agents, and teachers were common targets of retribution. In Bikita
South, an MDC MP elect Jani Makuku was reportedly attacked and left with broken
legs when youths and war veterans invaded his home on 12 June 2008. The alleged
perpetrators also torched his house and looted food reserves. The victim is now
hospitalized nursing amputated legs. On 17 June 2008, Marima of Ward 28, Bikita
South was reportedly ordered to vacate his farm at Nyahunda for alleged
involvement in opposition politics. Perpetrators reportedly looted his livestock
and destroyed his house. In the same area, on the same date, Ndongwe T [a
teacher] at Gumunyu School was chased away from the school house where he was
staying and his property destroyed on suspicion that he was an MDC supporter. On
15 June 2008 the Gwariro family of ward 7 were reportedly forced to surrender
their MDC material [party T/shirts cards] by party chairperson upon which they
were ordered to go through “baptism”- a process that entailed heavy beating with
logs by ruling party youths. On the night in question, the victim’s houses were
burnt down. On 8 June 2008, June Dubi, an agent for Simba Makoni in the 29 March
elections, was reportedly beaten by ruling party youths at Nyika Growth Point,
Bikita. After a severe assault, the victim was forced to march together with
other ruling party youths. In Chikuku village, Bikita, June Tinarwo and his
family were on 21 June 2008 forced to surrender their MDC material to the ruling
party. On the night in question, their huts were burnt. When they reported the
case to their kraal-head, the case was reportedly rejected. Human rights violations were also
committed in connivance with some kraal heads. On Election day, villagers in
ward 13, Bikita West, who were suspected to be MDC supporters, were reportedly
ordered by headman Mupakwa to shout loudly that “I am illiterate. I cannot read
or write.” Murder cases As highlighted earlier, Masvingo
is home to high incidents of murder. Perpetrators were both MDC and ZANU PF
supporters, although in the case of MDC, offences tended to take a retaliatory
course. Mabika Mudzingwa, a war veteran as well as a Councillor for the ruling
party, was reportedly axed to death on 9 June 2008 by suspected MDC supporters.
Mabika, accompanied by ruling party youths, had allegedly tried to disrupt an
MDC meeting that was in progress. The perpetrator was arrested and is now in
prison. In Nyajena village, Mr Jerera, a suspected MDC party member was
reportedly abducted from his homestead at midnight on 12 June 2008 by unknown
armed men. The victim was reportedly shot dead, his hands and legs cut while his
house was burnt. In Bota, Ward 28, Zaka West, Mageria [an MDC known activist],
who had been earlier forced to join ruling party youths, was later found dead in
a stream in Makonese village. Police are still investigating the matter. On 16
June 2008, S. Chikomba, a teacher at Zaka Secondary was reportedly murdered by a
fellow teacher who accused him of being an MDC member. On 24 June 2008, Chamba,
a Secondary teacher at Chitenderano Secodary School reportedly died after being
tortured at bases established at Wephanry and Portgietar Farm. Cases where villagers were
gathered by war veterans to witness how those who supported MDC supporters were
punished were also recorded. In typical liberation style, villagers were asked
to sing war songs while the beatings, usually heavy ones, were going
on. Harare
Harare recorded 282 cases visibly
featuring assaults, night abductions, harassments, looting and displacements,
among others. There were also disturbing reports of houses of suspected and
known opposition supporters being torched and petrol bombed of houses.
Base camps have reportedly been
established in most high density areas where residents were forced to attend
pungwes for daily doses of political re-orientation. In some areas like Epworth,
residents allegedly spent the night at pungwes and were in the morning
commandeered to polling stations where they were ordered to bring their serial
numbers after voting. Mostly prone to human rights
abuse were Chitungwiza, St Marys, Zengeza, Kuwadzana, Rugare, Kambuzuma,
Dzivarasekwa, Glen View, and Glen Norah, with most assaults reportedly taking
place at shopping centres. Losing ZANU PF MPs and councillors, ruling party
supporters, war veterans and youths militia were visibly involved in the
campaign exercise. Youths took over the control of prices, an exercise that saw
the mushrooming of youth’s road blocks across Harare. In high density areas, human
rights abuses entailed youths going into night clubs, beating up people randomly
accusing them of having voted wrongly. At Babylon Night Club, Mabvuku
Constituency, 10 youths [in bandanas and, ZANU PF T shirts] reportedly assaulted
revellers on 24 June 2008. In Epworth, more than fifty
people were reportedly assaulted and injured and houses destroyed in Overspill
Epworth by ZANU PF youths on June 17. Epworth residents were forced to attend
ZANU PF campaign meetings where all known opposition party members were
assaulted at the designated ZANU PF bases and subjected to threats of
displacement if they voted wrongly. The youths mounted roadblocks after every
500 meters on to Overspill demanding that passers-by chant ZANU PF slogans,
produce party cards and disclose their destination. As in other provinces, the
polling day in Harare had its own version of human rights violation. Known party
activists were forced to submit their ballot serial numbers after voting- a
strategy that was apparently crafted to ensure that known MDC supporters vote
for the ruling party. After the 27th June, most Harare residents reported being
asked to show the red ink on their fingers-a device that was designed to detect
those who had not voted. Not voting in the 27 June run-off was interpreted as
heeding to the opposition NO VOTE call by the MDC and accordingly
attracted a penalty from ruling party supporters. In Mbare, about five hundred
[500] ZANU PF militant youths under the leadership of Chipangano were reportedly
marching in Mbare unleashing terror on all known and suspected MDC supporters,
polling agents and observers. Incidents of Kidnappings, Arson and
Displacements Harare province was also home to
cases of night abductions and MDPs. On 19 June, Tendai Marindati, [an MDC Youth
organizing secretary for ward 5] was reportedly kidnapped at Chigovanyiaka
Shops, detained for 48 hrs, tortured and dumped along Beatrice Road. The victim
is currently detained at the Avenues Clinics where he is said to be recovering.
In Chitungwiza North, Godfrey Mangoma [an MDC running councillor candidate in
Unit O] was reportedly forced into a red car on 25 June 2008 and taken to an
unknown place. His whereabouts are yet to be established. 0n 10 June 2008, Mai
Yolanda [a tenant at a house owned by an MDC party member] in Epworth, Jacha
area reportedly had her door forced open at night, assaulted, and ordered to
remove all her belongings from the house by suspected ZANU PF supporters. The
victim was accused of lodging at a house owned by an opposition member. The two
roomed house was pulled down using sticks, axes, hoes and knobkerries.
In Kuwadzana, the Musonza family
[suspected MDC activists] had their house stoned on 10th June by ruling party supporters. At Glen View
Shopping Centre, Joel Chipoyera- a business man, had his music recording
business destroyed on 26 June 2008 when suspected ZANU PF youths discovered that
he was recording an MDC new album. The victim is reportedly on the run. In
Epworth, Overspill, Magaba, Harare, Mr Zhou and his family were on 20 June 2008
reportedly awoken at night by suspected ZANU Pf supporters armed with
knobkerries, axes, stones and sticks, ordered to remove property from their
house and move out of the house and also from Epworth area. The house was
torched and reduced to the ground, the stand reportedly confiscated by ZANU PF
supporters arguing that they were “the rightful owners of Epworth”. At around 11 pm on June 17, 15
ZANU PF youths reportedly went to the home of the MDC Councillor Philemon
Chipiyo of Ward 18, Chitungwiza with the aim of destroying his property. They
allegedly petrol bombed the house and damaged property worth trillions. Four [4]
MDC youths who were abducted at the house on the day in question, were
reportedly found dead the following day. When ZPP visited the place, they saw
Pan African Parliament observers at the scene and police only came to the scene
after 5 pm, the following day. In a similar case, in Ward 23,
the winning MDC Councillor Wendy Chiriri’s house in Unit N, Chitungwiza was
reportedly destroyed and property worth trillions of dollars also destroyed on
the same night of 17 June 2008 by about 200 suspected ZANU PF youths who
reportedly visited the house. Cases of looting/Theft Some residents also took
advantage of prevailing lawlessness to loot property belonging to suspected or
known MDC supporters. On 19 June, the merchandise of Moses Tukunye of Budiriro 2
Home Industry was allegedly seized by youths accusing the victim of “being an
MDC supporter campaigning for his party through hiking prices”. The matter was
not reported to police as the victim feared victimization. On 23 June 2008,
suspected ruling party youths, singing and chanting new ZANU PF slogans,
reportedly looted sugar from a Gazaland Sugar Wholesale. In a closely related
case, on 16 June 2008, suspected ruling party youths wearing 100% Total
Empowerment regalia reportedly looted food stuffs that belonged to a vendor at
Glen Norah Spacemen Shopping Centre “because she was not wearing ruling party
regalia”. Murder cases Murder cases were also reported
in Harare. At Vision Complex, Mbare constituency, a Mr Booker allegedly died on
12 June 2008 allegedly from wounds sustained after being beaten for celebrating
MDC victory in the 29 March elections. On 19 June 2008, four MDC activists were
allegedly abducted and murdered by more than fifty ZANU PF activists in
Chitungwiza. Midlands Consistent with its traditional
hotspot track record, Midlands recorded 223 incidents of human rights violations
with 5 cases of murder, 10 cases of abductions, 86 cases of assaults, 10 cases
of displacements, 9 cases of Malicious Damage to
Property and 94 cases of harassment, among others. Human rights violations are
most prevalent in Mberengwa West, Chiwundura, Gokwe Kabuyuni, Gokwe Chireya,
Gweru Urban, Gokwe Mapfungautsi, among others. Victims are targeted on suspicion
that they are MDC supporters or sympathizers. Teachers, by virtue of having
participated as polling officers, presiding officers and polling agents in the
29 March harmonized elections have generally borne the brunt of political abuse.
The month of June also witnessed
an upshot in politically-motivated food-related human rights violations in the
Midlands, with 60 out of the 106 gross cases having been recorded in June -- a
trend that is particularly disturbing given that the province is currently under
a heavy bout of drought with looming threats of starvation. Reports from the 4 Mberengwa
constituencies show that the onslaught on opposition supporters continued
unabated. The assault, displacement and torching of the homesteads and houses of
known and suspected opposition members remained in force after
elections.
Bases that
were set up in the pre-election period have not been disbanded. In Mberengwa West, victimization
of teachers was reportedly wide spread, a disturbing scenario that has seen most
schools closing and learning sessions disrupted. In Chari village, Norman
Chihora [a teacher] was chased away from a local ZANU PF meeting on suspicion
that he is an MDC sympathizer who leaks information to the MDC, a charge the
victim vehemently denied. At Mabika Secondary School, Lovinah Matavire [a
teacher and polling officer in the March 29 harmonized elections] and other
teachers were allegedly assaulted on 7 June 2008 and 12 June 2008 by youths from
the resettlements who were accusing teachers of directing the vote of those who
were not able to write [elders] to vote for the opposition. This onslaught
resulted in the injury and hospitalization of teachers at White hospital in
Zvishavane. Schools reopened under police and army escort. In all the cited
cases, there were no reports of the subsequent arrest of perpetrators of
violence. In Shurugwi, Mlingwa Albert of
Boterekwa primary school, ward 3, was on the 10th of June 2008 forced to flee from his homestead
allegedly by war veterans who got to his homestead at night singing and accusing
him of being an MDC supporter. After his eviction, war veterans reportedly
stayed at his homestead, converting his family food reserves and livestock to
their own use. In Shurugwi South, Luke Shumba [a school teacher and a polling
officer in the 29 March elections] was reportedly assaulted on 15 June 2008 for
having “clapped hands and showing joy” after the announcement of the results of
the 29 March poll. At Kandodo Hall in Zvishavane Ngezi, 19 teachers who had
acted as presiding officers in the 29 March elections were reportedly replaced
by ruling party activists on 18June 2008 on allegations that they were
sympathizing with the MDC. In Mkoba 13, Gweru, F. Chibaya,
an MDC activist and brother to the MDC Mkoba MP elect was reportedly abducted at
night, blindfolded and taken to a ZANU PF base on 24 June 2008 where he was said
to have been stripped, assaulted using falanga and blunt instrument, and also
threatened with shooting by suspected ruling party supporters. Chibaya was later
admitted at Gweru Provincial Hospital where he died from sustained injuries. In
Mkoba 13, T. Njanji [ruling party youth leader] was fatally assaulted on 21 June
2008 by suspected MDC youths, reportedly in retaliation for torching MDC
supporters ‘houses, including the house belonging to the MDC MP for Mkoba. The
deceased was reportedly abducted, tortured for four hours while blindfolded and
handcuffed and left for dead. He eventually died four days later on the 27th of June 2008. Perpetrators were arrested but
immediately released without charge. On June 30, police in Gweru raided shops
and allegedly confiscated sugar which was later sold from the Central Police
Station at $600 million per 2kg instead of $15 billion. Gweru residents were
reported to be milling around shops anticipating other raids. In Gokwe Mapfungautsi, two
suspected MDC supporters [names available] of Gwenyika ward in Chief Njelele
area reportedly fled to the nearby forests for fear of their lives. It is
alleged that in that area, on the day of elections, ZANU PF polling agents were
taking down ballot paper serial numbers to detect those who had voted for their
party and those who had not. All those that had voted for ZANU PF were said to
have submitted the serial numbers to the polling agents, an exercise that led to
the discovery that the two had not voted for ZANU PF. The two were reportedly
still in the bush at the time of printing. At Chitapo Business Centre, in Dengu
village, Gokwe South, 28 village heads were allegedly called to a meeting where
they were threatened with war and other dire consequences by the MP for Gokwe
Mapfungautsi in the company of war veteran if they “vote wrongly” in the 27 June
elections. Incidentally, Dengu area had voted for the MDC in the 29 March
elections. In a move that was aimed at punishing Dengu villagers, on 1 June
2008, a prominent member of ZANU PF for ward 20 in the Dengu area reportedly
removed from the ZUPCO queue people whose destination was Dengu village.
In Mberengwa East, on 26 June
2008, President Robert Mugabe, at a rally at Mataga Growth Point, reportedly
urged ZANU PF supporters to weed out MDC puppets and NGO sell-outs.
Incidentally, several homes were burnt soon after with over fifty people fleeing
to Zvishavane and Gweru after savage assaults and destruction of
homes. Mashonaland East The atmosphere in the province
was generally tense with threats of going back to the bush reverberating across
the province. June alone witnessed 9 murder cases with high incidents of
assault. Villagers were reportedly forced
to report at the base three times a day, at 6am, 1 pm and at 8 pm. An unofficial
curfew was set up at 6pm and those not attending were expected to explain
themselves. Villagers were also asked to make a contribution of $1 billion and
businesspersons contributing $20 billion dollars for food for those manning the
base. Freedom of movement was curtailed with villagers being asked to carry
passes and other authorizing letters if they intend to visit another
village. Freedom of movement was severely
restricted. In Mutoko North, on 15th June
2008, vehicles travelling to Nyamapanda border post were reportedly stopped by
war veterans who asked passengers to alight from the vehicles and attend a ZANU
PF meeting. The meeting was held at Chikondoma Stadium at Mutoko centre in
preparation for the President Mugabe’s rally on 18th of June 2008. Villagers were informed that all
persons with names appearing in the Herald as election agents would “disappear
at night one by one”. The war veterans were using a Mitsubishi truck and another
written C.A.M without number plates. People were assaulted for failing
to attend ZANU PF rallies and meetings, denounce and destroy any associations
with the MDC T, sympathizing with the MDC, refusing to surrender to the ruling
party, for celebrating March election victory. Assaults were done in townships,
drinking places and base camps, assault modes involving receiving a prescribed
number of wooden strokes on the buttocks, beaten by sticks, heavy wires, heavy
logs, sjamboks and metal rods while lying fully stretched on the ground. Victims
suffered broken legs, arms, head injuries, fractured ribs. After being punished,
some were forced to profess illiteracy and ask for assisted voting. As in other provinces, chiefs,
village heads and kraal heads had also become willingly or unwillingly part of
the human rights abuse network. In some cases they, like their subjects, fell
victim to assaults by either the youth militia or war veterans. In Ketero
village, Goromonzi, kraal head Ketero was allegedly assaulted on 15 June by Mai
Mudhara, a war veteran for failing to identify MDC supporters in his kraal. In
Chikwati Village, Ward 15, Musami, Mrewa West, a Peter Murirwa was on 24 June
2008 reportedly assaulted at night and forced to vacate his homestead on
allegations that he was one of the MDC election agents in the 29 March 2008. His
eviction was allegedly enforced by the village headman because the victim was
“an unwanted element in society”. The victim has reportedly sought refuge in
Harare. Some were assaulted on apparently
flimsy reasons. On 19 June, Julie Munetsi of Munetsi village, Goromonzi, was
allegedly assaulted and injured by Kenneth Nemhara, a war veteran for behaving
in “an MDC party manner”. Others were assaulted for failing or refusing to chant
latest ruling party slogans. On 28 June 2008, Annah Juru of Mupingidza village,
Mudzi was assaulted by 3 unknown boys when she refused to chant the slogan Pamberi na Va Mugabe—Pasi ne Chamatama (down with
Tsvangirai of chubby chicks). In yet other cases, people were
assaulted for being seen in the company of incorrect people. On 10 June, Mrs
Abgail Museyamwa of Chidawaya village in Ward 14 of Musami was abducted,
assaulted, allegedly for having been seen some time last year in the company of
Women Rights Activists in the area. She was attacked with wires, chains and
heavy logs. The incident was reported at Msami police, however no arrests have
been made so far. In Mhembere Village, Murehwa North constituency, 5 ZESN
Observers had their livestock [hens and goats] taken to the base and slaughtered
by ZANU PF youths allegedly to fix them for “being MDC observers”- a charge they
vehemently deny. Murder Incidents Mashonaland East also has a high
record of murder cases. With 9 cases of murder, the province is only second to
Masvingo with 13 incidents under her belt. On 27 June 2008, Manhenga Travor of
Chipfunde village, Uzumba was allegedly murdered on election night by a group of
youths based at Chimhodzi Business Centre. Trevor was on the wanted list for
supporting MDC party during the harmonized elections. On 16 June 2008, Charles
Kamugoti of Chanetsa village, Musami Rodzi Area, Mrewa West [an MDC activist]
was abducted and fatally assaulted by suspected ruling party youths militia for
his active involvement in opposition politics. While a report was made to the
police at Musami, perpetrators are still to be arrested. On 16 June 2008, two
Mtoko ruling party chairpersons, Mrs R. Chapfika and T. Chidzidzi were
reportedly shot by unknown assailants. On 13 June 2008—Mr Chen -- an MDC
supporter and also headmaster at Katsukunye Sec was abducted from school at
around 1300hrs and was found the following day dead near the 2.1 Infantry at the
side of the road, his head reportedly shot and cut off. Being a suspected or
known MDC T supporter could be a recipe of death. In village 26, Murehwa South,
four [4] MDC activists were reportedly murdered at Changwe farm on 26 June 2008,
allegedly by suspected war veterans and ZANU PF youths who were still camped at
Macheke Grain Marketing Board [GMB] base camp. The perpetrators reportedly
ordered people not to bury the dead. Although the police were reportedly aware
of the incident, arrests are yet to be effected. Displacements Known and suspected MDC
supporters were common targets for arson, assault and displacement. On 11 June
2008, Sarudzai Murangariri of Magobo village, Wedza [an MDC party secretary and
youth activist] was reportedly harassed, intimidated and displaced from her
homestead by the ruling party youth. Youths reportedly arrived at her homestead
at 4pm and told her that she had an hour to prepare and leave, to which she
complied. Her whereabouts are not known to this day. Nothing was done to the
perpetrators. 0n 7 June 2008—Misheck Shoko of Sable Range, Marondera had his
letter of offer for a 6 hectare piece of land withdrawn, allegedly by the
leadership in the area. On the day in question, the local MP was leading a group
of senior party officials from the provincial head office when the victim
allegedly uttering sentiments that “who-ever wins in the run-off should be
accepted as the leader of the country”-a statement that did not go down well
with the provincial leadership. On 15 June 2008, Duncan Chipiso
and Ngwarai Masviba, teachers at Machinjike Secondary School, Murewa North had
their property destroyed allegedly by ZANU PF youths on allegation that
they are MDC party supporters. The teachers have since fled from the school. On
21 June 2008, Katsande of village 22, Mutoko South, was allegedly assaulted by a
group of suspected ruling party youths led by 4 war veterans who were moving
around the village with the list of names of people suspected to be MDC party
activists. The perpetrators reportedly gathered at his house singing and
chanting liberation songs and telling him to “go to Britain” before torching his
house. On 20 June 2008, Tendai Mbidzo of village 20, Mutoko South, [a known
MDC
activist] was
reportedly harassed, beaten and had his house burnt down by ruling party youths
reportedly led by war veterans from Mutoko Centre. The victim has since fled
from the area. Mashonaland Central As reported in most provinces,
known and suspected opposition members, polling agents, ZESN observers and
monitors, elect opposition MPs and Councillors remained prime targets of
victimization. Assisting displaced or injured relatives was akin to sympathizing
with opposition politics. Cases of retaliatory violence have also been
reported. Harassment generally entailed
forcing people to attend ruling party rallies and meetings, confess and denounce
their affiliation with MDC politics, surrender MDC items. Perpetrators, mostly
youths led by war veterans, approached the homes of suspected or known MDC
suspects in groups, mostly at midnight singing revolutionary songs and
denouncing the target. In some cases, mock coffins were reportedly placed in the
suspect’s yard, usually after issuing threats of destroying the homestead and
crops in the field. The placing of the coffin was meant to scare and
subsequently displace victims. On 7 June 2008, two Makotore
brothers from Howard, Chiweshe reportedly suffered intimidation, victimization,
torture, and threats at the hands of suspected ZANU PF youth militia on
allegation that they were recruiting residents of the area into MDC activities
and issuing MDC party cards and T shirts. In Bindura District, Nyasoka Tichaona
of Chirikadzi village was reportedly abducted on the 7th of June 2008 by a group of suspected 60 ruling
party youths stationed at Chirikadzi Shopping Centre. The victim was heavily
assaulted and driven to Bindura Police Station where false charges were
allegedly laid on him. The victim is still in police custody. Cases of displacements and
Malicious Damage to Property were also very visible. On 5 June 2008 Manyika
Crispen of Shonhiwa Village, Mt Darwin South, was reportedly threatened with
eviction from his lodgings by ruling party militia, allegedly for staying with
his uncle who had attended MDC meetings. The victim has since fled from the
area. On 9 June 2008, unknown assailants visited Siyavhuma [a suspected ZANU PF
member] at his homestead in Chawanda village, Mt Darwin West and burnt his
homestead during the night. The act appeared retaliatory as the victim had
reportedly been perpetrating violence in the area. In Chadzimba village, unknown
assailants reportedly killed four oxen belonging to Edward Chadzimba on the
night of 9 June 2008 apparently in retaliation as the victim was alleged to have
influenced ZANU PF supporters to victimize MDC members. On 6 June 2008, Silvia
Forsta of Corncorpio Farm was forced to move from the farm house, allegedly by a
group of ZNA members, on suspicion that she was a suspected MDC supporter. The
victim had reportedly distributed MDC T shirts during the 29 March MDC
campaigns. On 16 June 2008, Isaac Gandari, village head of Kapfudzaruwa village,
Mt Darwin was left homeless when unknown people burnt his homestead. The victim
had also acted as an election observer in the 29 March elections. Matabeleland South Consistent with earlier ZPP
warnings, violence is slowly creeping into Matabeleland South - a not so
surprising development given the competition that is raging on between the
ruling party and the MDC T. ZANU PF losing MP and councillors
are engaged in retributive violence against rural villagers. Chiefs, village
heads and kraal heads, possibly out of fear rather than outright co-optation are
reportedly involved in these acts of human rights violations. War veterans were reportedly
forcing recruited civilians to base camps that have been established in most
parts of the province. In the rural areas like Wenlock Communal lands, Wabayi
village, Sigodo Village, Sitezi, Dwala and West Nicholson, there is a war
veteran base in almost every village of the ward where people are required to
spend 48hrs undergoing political re-orientation. Women were reportedly ordered
to these camps to cook and wash, among other things. This tight schedule
reportedly had its toll on married women who, because of these obligations, no
longer had enough time to look after their children as refusal to serve in these
security duties immediately invited an opposition tag. A number of villagers
reportedly fled to Botswana. In Ward 22 and 23, Gwanda,
villagers have reportedly deserted their homes for Bulawayo, Gwanda and
Beitbridge because of the two camps [ruling party campaigning headquarters]
established in Gwanda Central farms at Dwala and West Nicholson. Dwala villagers
are a group of resettled farmers who were strongly suspected to be opposition
supporters. In Mtshabe village, Ward 6,
Gwanda District, losing Gwanda constituency candidate and losing councillor of
ward 6 reportedly established camps [commanding centres] in the Wenlock Communal
land with Chief Mathema’s consent where they are intimidating members of the
winning party, forcing people to meetings, conducting door to door campaigns,
ordering people to surrender their cards and threatening villagers with
displacements and starvation. At most meetings, villagers were ordered to
register with their kraal heads in preparation for the 27 June elections. The
perpetrators allegedly threatened to deny villagers access to buy cheap grain
from the GMB if the ruling party loses in the 27 June presidential
run-off.
Most
villagers have reportedly fled to town leaving their homes, properties and
livestock. In Waboyi village, ward 6, Gwanda
District, a kangaroo court was reportedly set up at the Sofa Business Centre
where members of the winning MDC party were allegedly harassed and tortured by
war veterans for voting for the opposition. They were reportedly told to abandon
the winner of the 29 March harmonized election. Bases have also reportedly been
set at Sofa, Mtshaza and Sigodo. In Maphane village, ward 7,
Gwanda District, Chief Khulumane Mathema reportedly convened a meeting on the
11th of June where he told villagers that
he was employed by the ruling party and not the government and as such the
ruling party can take back the vehicle it gave to him if the party loses the
presidential run-off. The Chief allegedly then told the village heads to ensure
that their communities vote wisely. Teachers and students are also
reportedly bearing the brunt of human rights abuse. In Umzingwane, teachers and
A-level students were reportedly forced to attend a campaign meeting which was
convened at Swazi High School where they were roundly threatened for voting
wrongly. Teachers, in contravention of their code of professional ethics, were
reportedly told to campaign for the ruling party and tell people to vote
correctly. The MDC presidential candidate
and his campaign entourage [on tour of Matebeleland South], were reportedly
detained on 6 June 2008 for four and half hours at Esigodini Police Camp
allegedly for failing to produce a clearance letter. They were then forced to go
back to Bulawayo under police escort. In Sitezi village, Gwanda, Juliet
Nkiwane, an MDC candidate in the March elections had her home set ablaze on 13
June 2008 by members of the ruling party who had earlier issued her with threats
and intimidation for her role in the MDC. Property worth trillions of dollars
was burnt. No arrests were made despite the case being reported to the police.
Matabeleland North Human rights violations in the
province entailed forcing people to join solidarity marches, forcing people to
attend political meetings, threatening villagers with war, reminding villagers
how sell-outs were punished during the liberation struggle. Parastatals in the region also
bore the brunt of the 27 June run-off. Since the 29 March elections, management
positions at ZESA and Hwange Colliery have allegedly been held by political
appointees of ZANU PF. The parastatals are under pressure to dismiss employees
who are perceived to be politically incorrect. In No 5 village, Hwange Colliery,
Robert Ndhlovu [an MDC councillor elect] for Sinderrella No 1 North was
intimidated and allegedly displaced from his place after receiving threats of
gross harm from unknown people. The victim is traumatized, harassed, displaced
and unsure of his security of employment. On 19 June, Hwange Dlakama, a
ZESA [ZPC] employee [councillor elect for MDC] for ward 1, Hwange, was forced to
transfer to Munyati with immediate effect allegedly for his “un-patriotism”. The
victim has since been transferred to Munyati Power Station. In Hwange Central, two MDC
supporters, Cosmas Ndhlovu and Admire Munhenga [ZESA employees who in March
contested and won the Hwange Local Board Council elections on an MDC ticket]
were reportedly intimidated, harassed and threatened with dismissal by suspected
ZANU PF supporters. Perpetrators allegedly forced them to resign on 20 June from
their place of employment before the 27 June run off. They were accused of
“misleading other workers---a bad influence to the Hwange community as a whole”.
Rallies in Tsholotsho resonated
with threats of “going back to the bush” and “burning of homesteads” if
villagers do not vote correctly. In Tsholotsho, the ZANU PF presidential
candidate, addressing villagers at Tsholotsho Business Centre on 19 June 2008
reportedly told Tsholotsho villagers telling them that although he is old he
will not leave the office as he has a job to do. On 23 June 2008, MMPZ officers
and committee members were rounded by CIOs, while they were having a workshop at
Binga Rest Camp. The officers and committee
members were handed over to the police and were locked up for three
days.
They were
released with no charges levelled against them. Bulawayo The province witnessed a visible
decline in election violence. It recorded 37 cases of human rights violations, a
drop from the May record of 44 cases. When compared with other provinces,
Bulawayo casts a stark and even incomparable contrast to scenarios in Manicaland
[1173 cases], Mashonaland West [with 1056 cases]. This is however not to imply
that the province has not been with its own gray areas as some pockets of human
rights abuse have been witnessed in some parts of the province. In Luveve constituency, Bernard,
a disabled and blind ZANU PF supporter was on 30 June threatened with food
denial for telling ZANU PF party members that he had voted for the MDC. He was
also reportedly threatened with assault until his eyes open. In Mpopoma/Pelandaba
Constituency, around 30 MDC members wearing party T/shirts and singing aboard a
bus campaigning for their MP candidate were on 26 June stopped by the ZRP and
ordered to disperse, accused of disturbing traffic flow. On election-day, residents in
some constituencies like Luveve were reportedly forced to vote and show their
red fingers to the local ruling party councillor as confirmation that they had
voted. On the same day in Pumula East constituency, ZANU PF supporters and war
veterans were reportedly campaigning within 80m of the polling station with
radio on full blast-in apparent breach of the 100m threshold provided for in the
Electoral Act. This was reportedly in full view
of ZRP officers. INCIDENTS OF FOOD DISCRIMINATIION BY
PROVINCE The run-up to the June run-off
witnessed unbelievable cases of political motivated food-related human rights
violations. Experiences from all provinces point to a tight, partisan and highly
centralized food distribution network. Access to Government Subsidized Food,
agricultural inputs, tillage support, agricultural credit, food loan, irrigation
is through a tight vetting process in which village kraal heads, village
chairpersons, ward councillors, war veterans, and ruling party youths are
involved. To access subsidized maize or
mealie-meal at GMB depots, one has to be on the village register which had to
vetted and endorsed by the ward councillor in consultation with war veterans and
ruling party leadership. To qualify for such registration, one has to be in
possession of a ruling party card and also a regular attendance of ruling party
meetings. In addition to this, in most provinces, GMB Maguta programs are headed
by either army officers or retired army officers or war veterans. Most millers
are reportedly ZANU PF supporters. Suggested by this network is that access to
buying food is not dependent on possession of money but access to political
networks. Selection of food beneficiaries
is the preserve of ruling party structures. Councilors, ruling party
chairpersons make decisive decisions on who and who not to benefit. Reports from all provinces show
that people [both urban and rural] are reportedly denied access to Government
Subsidized Food [GSF], seeds and fertilizer, tillage support, agricultural
credit, food loan and irrigation cases, among other reasons, for being known or
suspected MDC supporters, for failing to attend ruling party meetings, failing
to produce party card, voter registration receipt, failing to chant the latest
ZANU PF slogans and failing to denounce one’s party. Residents/villagers from
areas that were suspected to have voted for the opposition were subjected to
community-targeted food
sanctions-scenarios that seriously exposed
villagers to starvation given that most provinces are currently under
drought. In the post run-off era, food discrimination revolved
around the red ink requirement. Matebeleland South Drought prone, Matebeleland South
was home to nine cases of food discrimination in the month in question. Reports
indicate that access to food relief, food loan scheme, tillage support,
agricultural inputs is heavily partisan. Villagers were reportedly forced to
attend political meetings, ordered to produce party cards, forced to chant party
slogans, forced to denounce one’s party, in order to access relief
food. The perpetrators are district
party members, traditional leaders, war veterans and losing councillors. On 24
June 2008, Njabulo Moyo of Mtshabezi village, ward 8, Gwanda North was
reportedly denied access to agricultural Credit, forced to attend political
meetings and ordered to produce party card in order for him to get agricultural
credit forms. In this incident, the perpetrators were reportedly village
secretaries and other ruling party members. Most violations occurred at GMB
depots and shopping centres. After the run-off, those who did
not have red ink mark on their fingers were reportedly chased away from queues
for buying subsidized grain at GMB depots. Harare ZPP Reports to widespread
politically-motivated food-related human rights violations in Harare
Metropolitan, recording a total of 32 cases. Even access to scarce and basic
food stuffs such as sugar and cooking oil is largely partisan as most queues at
shopping centres where such commodities will be available is largely monitored
by party structures. Cases where soldiers and ruling party activists access
scarce commodities while residents go empty handed have in fact become so
regular that they risk being viewed as a right of the perpetrators. In Glen View Shopping Centre,
Phylis Chataika [an MDC activist and HIV volunteer for Chiedza Home of Hope] was
on 3 June 2008 allegedly denied access to mealie-meal meant for those affected
with AIDS. On the day in question, people were reportedly forced to chant
slogans or produce ZANU PF party cards before being sold mealie-meal. On 14 June
2008, Chimbwanda, a resident of Caledonia Transit farm Camp and a well known MDC
supporter was allegedly denied food relief at Juru Growth point. In Old Canaan, Highfield, Home
Based Care Kits, medicine belonging to an AID Counselling Trust [ACT] were
ransacked by youths demanding a register of all people who receive food AID from
her organization. The volunteer [Mandy Gwenzi] was forced to attend a lunchtime
“base” meeting at Zororo Centre. The Home based Care was perceived to be used to
woo voters for the MDC. At a Roman Catholic Church in Highfield East, Noel
Chikata was on 3 June 2008 ordered to chant the latest ruling party slogans and
produce party card. When he failed to meet the order, access to subsidized food
was allegedly denied to him. In Highfiled West, Thompson Warikandisi [a
volunteer at Mashambanzou] reported that Children Living with HIV/aids at Roman
Catholic Church in Zororo had their food looted by ruling party youths to an
unknown destination on 20 June 2008. Midlands The Midlands province recorded 60
cases of politically motivated food-related human rights abuses, the highest
record in the country. This record is not surprising given that most parts of
the province are drought-prone areas. As was the trend in other provinces,
victims were denied access to cheap food for a variety of politically-motivated
reasons that included coming from a constituency that was suspected to have
overwhelmingly voted for the MDC, refusing to attend ruling party/base meetings,
failing to produce voter registration receipts, failing to surrender MDC
regalia, or seen in association with known or suspected MDC supporters, among
others. Victims were allegedly subjected
to public humiliations such as being shouted at, chased away food queues or
advised to “get food from England”. Notable havens of these violations were
constituencies in Gokwe, Mberengwa, Kwekwe, and Zvishavane. Most offences were
committed at business shops and at GMB depots with kraal heads, village heads,
councillors, war veterans, ruling party youths and GMB officials as main
perpetrators. In Kwekwe, Ventura Farm, Gilbert
Shoko was on 18 June 2008 reportedly refused to buy agricultural inputs and
threatened with beating on allegations that he was an MDC supporter. The victim
stays in Torwood, Redcliff, an area labelled as an MDC stronghold. At the
Roasting Plant Compound Shopping Centre, Kwekwe, Judith Mwanza [a well known MDC
activist] was on 22 June allegedly denied access to subsidized maize sourced
from Blackman Millers [a company owned by a ruling party activist] allegedly for
refusing to surrender her MDC garb. The victim had earlier been advised to
surrender T/shirt, card, wrapping material. At Gwedza Primary School, Mbizo,
Kwekwe, Susan Zulu [an MDC activist] was on 21 June 2008 denied access to
subsidized maize meal because “the cheap maize was for ruling party supporters”
as it was sourced from a ruling party activist. In Zhombe constituency, Anna
Zinyama was on 23 June 2008 reportedly denied access to cheap GMB mealie-meal at
Chiroro Business Centre by the local leadership, headman Farson Masvosve,
allegedly for “not attending ZANU PF village meetings”. The victim was also not
on the ZANU PF food register. In Mberengwa West, Jonathan
Nhliziyo was on 17 June reportedly denied to buy subsidized GMB mealie-meal at
Nyororo Business Centre because “his son had been an MDC party agent” in the 29
March elections. At Mahindi Primary School- Gumbo Mufaro [a widow] was on 16
June 2008 denied to buy cheap mealie-meal by the headman, allegedly for failing
to call back her son working in Harare to “join others in the rural areas that
are fighting for the soil”. In Gokwe Kana, Mharadze villagers
were on 21 June reportedly denied access to cheap GMB maize delivered at Gawa
Business Centre, allegedly by the kraal head for “not attending party meetings”.
Failure to attend village party meetings was equated with supporting the
opposition. Teachers at Gawa Primary School, Gokwe Kana were also on the same
day reportedly denied access to buy subsidized GMB maize by the ruling party
chairperson arguing that maize was for “the ZANU PF campaign and not for MDC
sympathizers”. Masvingo Food-related violations in
drought prone Masvingo was generally consistent with experiences in other
provinces. Access to government subsidized food was largely through ruling party
vetting processes in which kraal heads, war collaborators, party chairpersons,
village heads, councillors, party youths and war veterans, among others were
visibly involved. In some Wards, kraal heads were reportedly ordered to register
the names of those suspected to be into opposition politics. Most food-related
human rights abuses occurred at local business centres, notable among which were
Mavhiringidze Township, Nyamakwebi Township and Chibi Growth Point. Just after the run-off, on
28th June, Masvingo Urban residents
reported selective supply of sugar to ruling party supporters by army, war vets
and party youths at Tsungai Shop and Mutema Brothers Shop [shops allegedly owned
by ruling party supporters]. On 6th of
June, Shumba Lawrence, a losing ruling party councillor reportedly told
villagers, suspected to be mostly MDC supporters that they were going to vet
villagers who are going to buy maize seed from GMB. On 28th of June, some residents of Runyararo, Ward 4,
Runyararo West, Masvingo Urban, were reportedly severely prejudiced when cheap
mealie-meal sourced from a local grinding mill was allegedly diverted to ruling
party youths as a token of appreciation for their participating in the run- off
campaign- a campaign that had reportedly entailed force marching residents of
ward 4 to go and vote in the one-man contested presidential run –off. On 10
June, Zimuto villagers were reportedly denied access to subsidized GMB maize at
Mazambara Business Centre, allegedly for “campaigning for an opposition
councillor in the 29 March election”. In some cases, suspected MDC
supporters simply had their names skipped or removed from the list to buy GMB
mealie-meal. At Chivi Growth Point, on 19th June, GMB officials [led by a known army
captain who heads Operation Maguta at Chivi Depot] reportedly denied GMB food to
villagers from Mawararire and Muvhundisi accusing them of being MDC supporters.
On 3 June, villagers from Govo, ward 33 were reportedly cancelled from the Food for Work Program list allegedly by kraal head
Nyengeri on suspicion that their ward had voted for the MDC. On 14 June, in Ward
3, teachers at Saint Staurkans primary and secondary schools were reportedly
denied access to subsidized GMB food at Mushagashe by soldiers in the
constituency allegedly accusing them of having “campaigned for the
opposition”. Bulawayo While the province was relatively
calm, its food-related human right record was not that impressive. With 15
recorded cases, Bulawayo emerged second in terms of food related violations. As
in other provinces, food denials were based on party card issues, party meeting
attendance record and on the red finger requirement, especially after elections.
Perpetrators included army and police officers, Task Forces, councillors [most
of which were losing councillors] and ruling party supporters. Mainly affected
were Pumula, Nguboyenja, Makokoba and Luveve constituencies. In Pumula East, Pumula
constituency, Sharon Sibanda, a ZANU PF member was on the 28th of June reportedly denied registration for
mealie-meal because “there was no sign of ink on her finger to show she had
voted”. In the post 27 run-off period, failure to vote was viewed as a serious
betrayal of the ZANU PF cause. In fact it was tantamount to an endorsement of
the MDC NO VOTE call in the
run-up to the 27th June presidential
run-off. In the same constituency, Teresa Mugago was reportedly denied access to
buy subsidized mealie-meal by war vets on 17 June-because the “mealie-meal was
for party supporters and those who attend party meetings”. Even in ordinary shops, suspected
opposition supporters were reportedly denied access to scarce basic food stuffs.
At Chigumira Shops in Luveve, B. Mpala was on 9 June reportedly denied access to
buy scarce mealie-meal by ZANU PF supporters because “she had no party cards”.
In Nguboyenja, Makokoba constituency, Soshongane residents were reportedly
denied access to scarce and subsidized mealie-meal, sugar, and cooking oil at
Nguboyeja Grocery [Mumba Store] on 5 June 2008. In Richmond, J. Mhungira, an
elderly widow was reportedly refused to buy scarce, subsidized GMB mealie-meal
at Richmond Falls Garage shop because “she did not have a party
card”. Mashonaland East Consistent with its poor track
record of politically motivated violence, access to Government Subsidized Food
was largely through party structures. People were denied access for failing to
produce voter registration receipts, names not appearing at the base camp
register, for staying/associating with MDC supporters/relatives, among others.
Cases where suspected and known MDC supporters were chased away from queues for
subsidized mealie-meal and basic food stuffs and coldly advised to buy “food
from their own party” were reportedly widespread. In Dombotombo, Marondera, a Mrs A
Manzungu was on the 4th June reportedly
told point blank by a ruling party losing councillor that she was not going to
get maize from GMB because “she had voted for the MDC”. At Cherima Township,
Marondera, Mr Muswere Bernard was on the 10th of June reportedly denied access to subsidized
maize from GMB Maguta by losing
councillor E. Tsuro, who was in charge of food distribution in ward 5 on grounds
that he was “politically suspect”. At Rusike Park in Marondera, Mrs S Phiri was
on the 9th of June reportedly denied access
to subsidized maize from GMB Maguta by ruling party councillor
Kwaramba, allegedly for “staying with an MDC supporter”. At Dorset Farm,
Marondera, villagers who were suspected to be MDC supporters were on 13th of June 2008 reportedly discriminated against
in the selection of people to benefit from the Government Maize Aid delivered by
Mr Jeche, the chairperson of the ruling party and responsible for the selection
of beneficiaries. In Chitanda Village, Mahusekwa,
John Maoneka was on the 9th of June denied
access to buy some maize meal at the local shop by village headman because he
was “seen wearing MDC regalia and also celebrating the March 29 harmonized
elections”.
The victim
was chased away from the mealie-meal queue. In Marondera, John Matiza [a school
teacher] at Chitanda School was on the 17th
of June denied access to buy scarce basic food stuffs and mealie-meal at the
local shops by local villagers because “he was seen moving together with MDC
members in the ward”. The perpetrator allegedly directed the shopkeeper not to
sell mealie-meal to “sell-outs” before proceeding to grab and push the victim
out of the shop promising to beat him. Concluding Remarks Highly centralized food
allocation systems are prone to political abuse during election time. The risk
of politically abuse is even worse when elections are conducted under highly
polarized contexts. The risk is worst where traditional supplementary sources
have been disbanded. The risk is even most threatening when elections are
conducted under contexts of drought and a general economic meltdown
characterized by scarcity of basic food stuffs. Such scenarios characterized
Zimbabwe in the run-up to what later turned out to be a one-political contender
run-off. Against this backdrop, when the
Government of Zimbabwe, on the 4th of June
2008, ordered a number of nonprofit food aid agencies [CARE, Save the Children]
to suspend distribution of food until after the 27 June 2008 accusing them of
using food to undermine the government-the decision naturally generated heated
debates within and outside Zimbabwe, with most people expressing fear that the
decision would see millions [especially children in schools, orphanages and the
elderly in nursing homes] in drought-hit areas starving. These fears were indeed
well-founded given that people in rural Zimbabwe have three main ways of
accessing maize and mealie-meal, namely through government food for work
program, buying it from the GMB, and through donor schemes for school pupils and
the under fives- sources that are vulnerable to political
manipulation. The June food-related human rights violation incidence spread was as shown below: Food Distribution Analysis June 2008
FOOD DISTRIBUTION SOURCES
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