OVERVIEW
September 15 2008 saw the landmark signing of the power-sharing Agreement between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations.
Under the Agreement, Robert Mugabe would remain the President of
Zimbabwe and chair the Cabinet, Morgan Tsvangirai would become Prime
Minister and chair the Council of Ministers as well as being the Deputy
Chairperson of Cabinet whilst Arthur Mutambara would become one of the
Deputy Prime Ministers.
Under Article 11(2) of the Agreement, the parties agreed to "work
together to create a genuine, viable, permanent, sustainable and
nationally acceptable solution to the Zimbabwe situation and in
particular to implement the (following) agreement with the aims of
resolving once and for all the current political and economic
situations and charting a new political direction for the country".
Further Article X (10) indicated that the parties had agreed there
should be "free political activity throughout Zimbabwe within the ambit
of the law".
Article XVIII (18.5(a)) committed the parties "to promote values and
practices of tolerance, respect, non-violence and dialogue as means of
resolving political differences" and the Government to "apply the laws
of the country fully and impartially in bringing all perpetrators of
politically motivated violence to book" (18.5(c)).
This report marks the first test to some of the terms of the Agreement.
Contrary to the spirit and letter of the Agreement,
politically-motivated human rights violations continue to be recorded
with some violations being perpetrated by members of the ZRP under the
guise of preserving public order.
The September MPVR marks an increase in the total number of human
rights violations and incidents from 81 in August to 385 in September.
Furthermore most of the violations in the report occurred after the
signing of the power-sharing Agreement.
In situations that confirm the high levels of political intolerance
attendant on the political scene in the country, violence broke out
amongst rival supporters of ZANU PF and the MDC who were waiting
outside the Rainbow Towers in Harare to witness the signing ceremony.
In other matters relating to the power-sharing deal, the police
allegedly arrested MDC supporters in Buhera and Masvingo for
celebrating the signing of the Agreement.
The report documents 44 cases of unlawful arrests and unlawful
detention for the month of September whilst incidents of political
discrimination rose from 19 in August to 96 in September.
The report further documents 93 cases of assault. In Mbare, MDC
supporters were allegedly assaulted by ZANU PF youths at Mbare Police
Station as they attempted to reclaim their homes, which had been
confiscated by ZANU PF supporters at the height of the June 2008
electoral violence.
Apparently, the houses are owned by the Harare City Council and thus do
not belong to individuals who are now facing victimisation for being
MDC supporters.
Other people fell prey to attacks by ZANU PF supporters after they were seen wearing MDC t-shirts.
A remarkable incident is alleged to have occurred in Harare Central
where an MDC supporter, clad in party regalia, was assaulted and told
that the violence would continue until President Mugabe acknowledged
Tsvangirai’s role as Prime Minister.
The Human Rights Forum contends that whilst the numbers of violations
recorded in this report seem very marginal as compared to the violence
from March – June 2008, it is still deplorable that Zimbabweans are
being victimised for their political affiliations.
The state cannot purport to be protecting peace and stability in the
country by trampling on citizens’ rights to express their views on
governance issues such as the provision of education, health and food.
In the same vein, the Human Rights Forum condemns the arrest and harsh
treatment of Bindura University students who were arrested for
demonstrating against the hikes in tuition fees.
TOTALS: 1 September to 30 September 2008
Cumulative Totals: 1 January -30 September 2008
The graphs and tables could not be reproduced.
Key Abbreviations
AIPPA – Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
CIO – Central Intelligence Organisation
WOZA – Women of Zimbabwe Arise
ZANU PF – Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front
MDC – Movement for Democratic Change ZCTU – Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
MP – Member of Parliament ZNA – Zimbabwe National Army
NAGG – National Alliance for Good Governance ZPS – Zimbabwe Prison Service
NCA – National Constitutional Assembly ZRP – Zimbabwe Republic Police
OVT – Organised Violence and Torture ZNLWVA – Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
POSA – Public Order and Security Act ZIMTA – Zimbabwe Teachers Association
PTUZ – Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe ZUPCO – Zimbabwe United Passenger Company
UMP – Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe
ZINASU – Zimbabwe National Students Union
Sources: The information contained in this report is derived from
statements made to the Public Interest Unit of the Zimbabwe Human
Rights Forum, its members and statements taken by a network of human
rights activists and newspaper reports,
Notes to the tables:
Torture: All cases of torture fall under the definition of torture
according to the general definition given in the United Nations
Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman and
Degrading Treatment and Punishment.
The four elements of torture are:
1 Severe pain and suffering, whether physical or mental
2 Intentionally inflicted
3 With a purpose
4 By a state official or another individual acting with the acquiescence of the state.
Those individuals referred to in point # 4 as state officials include the ZRP, ZNA,
Unlawful arrest and detention: Arrest by the Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) with no reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed.
Detention thereafter for a period exceeding 48 hours without access to
redress through the courts or subsequent release without charge.
Abduction/kidnapping: A kidnapping by a member(s) of an organised group
that is not the ZRP, ZNLWVA, ZNA, ZPS and the ZNLWVA (as a reserve
force of the ZNA).
Disappearance: Kidnapped persons whose whereabouts remained unknown at the time of reporting.
Property related: These are incidents in which property rights have
been violated. This includes arson, property damage and destruction and
theft.
Cases of Political Violence
Note: The identities of victims whose names have not been published in
the press and are not public officials are protected. This is done in
order to protect the victim from further violence, intimidation and
possible recriminatory attacks.
The purpose of this report is to record the nature of the politically
motivated violence and intimidation that continues to prevail in the
country. The Monthly Political Violence Reports are primarily based on
victims’ accounts, accompanied by medical evidence where possible,
obtained from member organisations of the Forum and other partner
organisations. Use is also made of press reports.
The Report cannot be considered as the exhaustive record of all
incidents of politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe in the period
under review.
Nevertheless, every incident reported to the Human Rights Forum
directly or through its members is meticulously documented and included
in the reports.
Care is also taken to record the incidents in the language in which they were reported to the Forum.
The situation prevailing in the country is such that it has not been
possible to verify all of these accounts. The Human Rights Forum has
done what it can to verify the reports, and is satisfied that the vast
majority of them are substantially true. It is also not possible to
rule out whether a victim’s account is exaggerated or contains
inaccuracies.
All reports derived from the press are denoted with the symbol ?
BULAWAYO
Bulawayo West
The Zimbabwean
02 September 2008
?. A Bulawayo businesswoman Rejoice Sibanda-Ncube was evicted from her
farm in Nyamandlovu after she refused to provide food for ZANU PF
supporters camped at a base adjacent to her farm. The victim and her
three children were force-marched out of their home at midnight by a
group of war veterans from Redwood Farm and accused of refusing to
provide them with food, inviting MDC supporters to the farm and not
attending ZANU PF meetings in the area.
The war veterans told her never to set foot on the farm as it now
belonged to them. The victim returned with her gardener the following
Sunday to seek permission from the war veterans to collect some clothes
for her and her
children but they refused and warned her that if she returned to the
farm they would shoot her. The victim reports that the war veterans had
already begun looting some of her farming equipment.
HARARE
Epworth
The Zimbabwean
08 September 2008
?. MDC officials reported that the wife of Epworth Member of
Parliament Eliah Jembere was detained by police and interrogated for
seven hours on September 8. The victim was only released after Alec
Muchadehama, a lawyer for the party intervened. Eliah Jembere was
arrested on charges of rape just before he was to be sworn in on August
25.
16 September 2008
Four female victims report that they were assaulted by four police
officers and a ZANU PF youth for allegedly celebrating the signing of
the power sharing agreement. The four assailants got to the four
women’s homes while they where asleep and took them to the ZANU PF base
at Ruben shopping centre in Epworth where they made them roll on the
ground whilst singing MDC songs.
The police officers also forced the victims to push a vehicle from the
base to the police station where they were assaulted by the police
officers who were on duty. They only stopped the assault when their
shift had ended. The victims were later taken to Harare Central Law and
Order section where they were detained overnight.
Harare Central
15 September 2008
The female victim reports that she and other MDC supporters were
assaulted by the police. The victim was part of a group of MDC
supporters who had gone to witness the signing of the power-sharing
Agreement between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations. When she arrived
at the hotel she was ordered by members of the ZRP to wait outside. A
group of ZANU PF supporters arrived and they were allowed access into
the hotel. The victim and other MDC supporters complained about the
preferential treatment that the ZANU PF supporters had received. They
were then assaulted with baton sticks.
15 September 2008
The female victim reports that she was assaulted by ZANU PF youths
while passing through Rainbow Towers Hotel during the signing of the
power sharing agreement. She passed a group of ZANU PF youths who were
arguing with each other near the hotel and had moved a few meters from
them when she saw the group running towards her. Fearing that they woud
attack her she ran towards a group of police officers who were standing
across the road but was attacked before she could get to them.
The assailants hit her on the back with a large stick and also threw
stones at her. Following the attack she went to Harvest House (MDC
Headquarters) to seek assistance.
15 September 2008
Two female and two male victims report that they were assaulted by
police officers at Rainbow Towers Hotel during the signing of the
power-sharing Agreement. They were part of the crowd that was trying to
enter into the Conference Center where the signing was being held. As
the crowd forcibly pushed its way through the gate that was manned by
the police. The police started beating them with batton sticks. One of
the victims reports that he was beaten on the head and sustained
injuries.
18 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by ZANU PF youths for
being an MDC supporter. The victim used to work as a Rank Marshall at
4th street bus terminus in the city centre. He reports that sometime in
March 2008, ZANU PF youths went and took over the place and declared
themselves the new Rank Marshalls. In September he was allowed back at
work but the youths insisted on keeping his earnings. When he asked for
his money, they alleged that he was an MDC supporter and assaulted him
all over his body.
The Zimbabwe Situation
21 September 2008
?. Berison Bvirivindi, a street vendor, was assaulted by suspected ZANU
PF suporters for wearing an MDC T shirt. The victim reports that ZANU
PF youth seized him at his stall in Harare’s Road Port bus station. He
alleged that they assaulted him and told him that they would continue
attacking MDC supporters until Robert Mugabe told them to stop and
Morgan Tsvangirai was acknowledged as Prime Minister.
Harare East
The Zimbabwe Times
26 September 2008
?. It is reported that former soccer star Masimba Dinyero was placed in
detention for three weeks after he allegedly criticized Robert Mugabe
for continuing to cling to power while police officers starve.
Police sources revealed that Dinyero, a serving police officer,
allegedly criticized President Mugabe during a casual discussion with a
fellow policeman. He was summoned before a police disciplinary hearing
which recommended that he be detained for 21 days at Harare’s Chikurubi
Barracks.
This is the maximum period a police officer can be detained for any breaches of a police disciplinary code.
Highfield
5 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was arrested and detained for four
nights on allegations that he is an MDC supporter and had caused public
disorder in the Norton area. He was arrested while at his place of work
in Highfield where he is a security guard. He was taken to Norton
Police Station where he was detained for four nights without appearing
in court. He was latter released without charge.
Mabvuku
15 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by suspected ZANU PF
youths for wearing an MDC t- shirt. He was on his way to fetch water
when he was confronted by two men who accused him of being a trouble
causer because he is an MDC supporter. He was hit with an iron bar on
the head before the assailants forced the metal bar into his mouth.
Three of his teeth fell out as a result.
22 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by ZANU PF youths for
being an MDC supporter. He was wearing an MDC t-shirt while operating
his phone shop at the local shopping when he was approached by a group
of ZANU PF youths who warned him that he would be killed if he did not
remove the t-shirt. He went back home to change and a few hours later
was confronted by six ZANU PF youths who assaulted him and also took
his cell phone, money and destroyed his pay phone.
23 September 2008
The Zimbabwe Situation
?. Edmore Ngadziore, the MDC District Treasurer for Mabvuku was
assaulted at the Red Bull Shopping Centre by about 10 ZANU PF
supporters for wearing an MDC t-shirt.
Mbare
15 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by ZANU PF youths while
escorting his friend after work. The youths alleged that he was part of
a group of MDC supporters that had earlier marched in the streets
celebrating the power – sharing Agreement before assaulting him. They
punched him with clenched fists, kicked him with booted feet and hit
him with blunt objects.
15 September 2008
The female victim reports that she was assaulted by ZANU PF youths
while she was on her way to the Rainbow Towers to witness the signing
of the power-sharing Agreement. She was clad in MDC regalia. They
assaulted her with a pick handle and kicked her on her right ankle.
16 September 2008
Three male victims, who are MDC supporters, report that they were
assaulted by ZANU PF youths from the "Chipangano" group which operates
in Mbare for putting on MDC t-shirts. The three were walking from
Sunningdale to the Rainbow Towers Hotel to witness the signing of the
power-sharing Agreement and were passing through Mbare when they were
attacked. They were beaten with large wooden sticks and one of the
victims was stripped naked by the ZANU PF youths.
18 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by suspected ZANU PF
youths for allegedly celebrating the signing of the power-sharing
Agreement. He was standing at a street corner with a friend when they
were confronted by a group of more than 10 ZANU PF youths. His friend
managed to escape but the victim failed to flee from the assailants and
was beaten with large sticks all over his body and sustained injures to
his head.
25 September 2008
The Zimbabwe Situation
?. It is reported that close to 61 families were attacked by ZANU PF
militia in full view of members of the police force at Matapi Police
Station. It is reported that the police took no action as these
families were attempting to reclaim their homes from which they were
expelled in June 2008 at the height of the election-related violence.
Although the victims were accompanied by a court officer and the Mbare
Member of Parliament, they were met with serious and violent resistance
by the ZANU PF supporters.
Witnesses said two truckloads of ZANU PF militia including the
notorious "Chipangano" gang invaded the police station chanting slogans
denouncing the MDC while the police looked on. ZANU PF youths militia
evicted MDC supporters from houses owned by the city council in the
Mbare, Nenyere and Matapi flats. It is alleged that the youths were led
by the losing ZANU PF council candidate for Ward 11 in Mbare, Jim
Kunaka.
Mufakose
09 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by ZANU PF youths. He was
at Adlina Butchery at Mhishi Shopping Centre with his friends when two
twin cab vehicles loaded with suspected ZANU PF supporters arrived.
They alleged that he was the head of the MDC youth and started
assaulting him.
He was assaulted with clenched fists and booted feet before being
thrown into the back of one of the trucks and taken to a place near
Mufakose High 1 School. The assailants submerged him in a dish full of
water and further assaulted him. They threatened to kill him and asked
him to name all MDC supporters in the area. He was forced to put on a
ZANU PF t-shirt before being blindfolded and taken back to the shopping
centre.
Mount Pleasant
7 September 2008
The male victim, a farmer, reports that he was assaulted by ZANU PF
youths who had come to forcibly take over his farm. The group led by
one Mr Kaduku produced an offer letter that was allegedly written at
the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture. The victim was ordered to pack
his belongings and move out of the farm house. He then asked to be
given more time to pack his belongings and to verify the offer letter
with the Ministry of Lands but the assailants refused and went on to
assault him with large sticks.
One of the assailants hit the victim with a golf club on the leg
resulting in a fracture. They threw him into their truck and drove him
to the farm house where they began taking his property out of the
house. The police arrived at that moment and ordered them to stop
taking out the furniture.
The assailants were arrested and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment.
MANICALAND
Buhera North
The Zimbabwe Situation
23 September 2008
?. Police Officers in Buhera arrested close to 25 MDC supporters for celebrating the signing of the
power-sharing Agreement. The charges were however changed to a more serious one, that of stock
theft when the police realised that they could not sustain the one they had arrested the victims for
earlier. Those arrested were held at Murambinda Police Station.
Mutasa North
22 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by ZANU PF youths for
wearing an MDC t-shirt. He was at a shopping centre when he was
attacked by a group of ZANU PF youths who dragged him behind the shops
and assaulted him under the feet with large sticks. He was told he was
being punished for being an MDC supporter.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Bindura North
The Zimbabwe Situation
09 September 2008
?. Marauding ZANU PF youths from Bindura forced a law firm that has
been representing MDC activists in the town to close down. The ZANU PF
youths raided the offices of Dinha, Bonongwe and Partners, before
taking away office furniture and hundreds of files. It is alleged that
the youths were working on instructions from Mashonaland Central
Governor Advocate Martin Dinha. Dinha is one of the founder members of
a local NGO the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Justice and a silent partner in
the firm.
The Zimbabwe Situation
17 September 2008
?. Ten Bindura State University Students were arrested during a protest
where they were demanding chiefly among other things the reversal of
school fees increment and better living conditions on campus. The
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) Secretary for International
Relations Chiedza Gadzirai, Laswet Savadye, Respect Ndanga, Titus
Chigama, Josephine Majurira, Tawanda Kanogoiwa, Artwell Simbaure and
three others were detained in police custody. They alleged that the
police assaulted them and accused them of trying to incite students to
further the MDC agenda. The group was charged with criminal nuisance
and fined 20 Zimbabwe dollars each.
MASHONALAND EAST
Chikomba West
9 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted and abducted by ZANU PF
youths for being an MDC supporter. He was at Nharira Township when he
was forced into a white Isuzu truck by four men.
They drove him to the home of the ZANU PF candidate in the March
harmonised elections. He was assaulted with large sticks during the
drive there. He was forced to remove the MDC t-shirt he was wearing
before it was burnt by the youths. He was later released and had to
walk back home a distance of more than 10km.
MASVINGO
Masvingo Urban
The Standard
13 September 2008
?. Three MDCÂ officials were arrested in Masvingo and more than 100
party supporters were arrested and detained for four hours at Masvingo
Central Police Station after they took to the streets
celebrating the power-sharing Agreement. Tachiona Chiminya, Masvingo
West MP, Jefferson Chitando, Masvingo Central legislator and provincial
chairman, Wilstaff Chitemere moved around with scores of MDC supporters
in the city of Masvingo singing party songs and celebrating. The MDC
supporters, some in a lorry and others in an open truck and the rest
toyi-toying on the streets, were blocked by police vehicles in the city
centre and force-marched to the Masvingo Central Police Station, where
they were detained for about four hours. They were later released
without charge after the intervention of party lawyer and Masvingo
Urban legislator, Tongai Matutu.
MATEBELELAND SOUTH
Matobo North
6 September 2008
The male victim reports that he was assaulted by suspected ZANU PF
supporters who alleged that he is an MDC supporter because he lives
and works in South Africa. He gave the four man a lift to Bulawayo and
as they were driving along during a conversation the victim was forced
to stop his car and his hands and feet were tied. He was thrown in the
trunk of the car and the assailants drove
around for a while. He later managed to free himself and drove to the MDC offices in Bulawayo.
MAIN EVENTS 2008
January 22 – MDC ‘Freedom March’ is banned by the police.
23 – Morgan Tsvangirai is picked up by the police from his home in the early hours of the morning and detained.
25 – MDC members are assaulted and arrested as they marched towards
Glamis Stadium for a rally. Members of Restoration of Human Rights
Zimbabwe are arrested and detained following a peaceful demonstration.
February 13 – Student leaders are arrested and assaulted for demonstrating in Harare and Bulawayo
19 – The MDC (Tsvangirai faction) Mabvuku Parliamentary candidate is
arrested outside the party’s headquarters allegedly for planning a
demonstration.
24 – Nine members of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe are
abducted and assaulted by suspected ZANU PF supporters before being
handed over to the police. The MDC (Tsvangirai) Parliamentary candidate
for Mhondoro/Ngezi is detained at Mubaira Police Station for 34 hours
on allegations that his campaign team had used abusive language during
a campaign session.
March – WOZA demonstrates on International Women’s’ Day. Three members
are assaulted and 50 are injured in the assaults by anti-riot police.
8 – Seven women are assaulted in Epworth while coming from an MDC
rally. Two of them are stripped of their party regalia leaving them
half naked.
29 – Voting in the Harmonised General, House of Assembly, Senate and Local Government elections take place.
April 13 – MDC claims that that 10 of its supporters had died as a result of political violence
18 – Zimbabwe celebrates Independence Day. The main celebrations take place at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare.
19 – Zimbabwe Election Commission starts the recount of the harmonised election votes in 23 constituencies.
May 2 – Official Presidential Election results are announced.
13 – Tonderai Ndira an MDC activist is abducted from his home in Mabvuku by suspected state agents.
22 – The body of Tonderai Ndira is discovered in a Harare morgue.
28 – MDC Offices at Jerera Growth Point in Masvingo are set on fire by armed men killing two people.
June 4 – Social Welfare Minister orders international aid groups to suspend operations
12 – Tendai Biti is arrested and charged with treason and communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state.
22 – Tsvangirai pulls out of 27 June Presidential Run Off citing violence against his supporters.
27 – The Presidential Run Off takes place.
29 – Election results are announced and Robert Mugabe is declared winner and sworn in for a sixth term as President.
July 17 – King Muteta a police officer in Mudzi North is allegedly
severely assaulted by ZANU PF youths and war veterans and dies on 25
July 2008 due to injuries sustained in the attack.
21 – A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin interparty talks is signed by ZANU PF and the two MDC formations.
August 11 – Zimbabwe celebrates Heroes Day followed by the Defence Forces day the following day.
25 – Lovemore Moyo, MDC National Chairperson, is elected the 1st
Speaker of Parliament from an opposition party since Independence in
1980
26 – The first session of the seventh Parliament of Zimbabwe is opened by President Mugabe.
September 15 – The leaders of the three main political parties sign a
power-sharing deal agreeing on the framework for power sharing. Robert
Mugabe remains President, Morgan Tsvangirai becomes the Prime Minister
and Arthur Mutambara becomes the Deputy Prime Minister.
18 – The parties hold talks regarding the allocation of ministries but fail to reach an agreement.
19 – The President leaves for a trip to New York for the 63rd Session
of the United Nations General Assembly before swearing in the Prime
Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.
25 – The President delivers his statement at the 63rd Session of the UN
General Assembly. He reiterates that his party, ZANU PF, would abide by
the spirit and letter of the power-sharing Agreement.
Information
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (also known as the "Human Rights
Forum") is a coalition comprising 16 member organisations. It has been
in existence since January 1998 when non-Governmental organisations
working in the field of human rights joined together to provide legal
and psychosocial assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January
1998.
The Human Rights Forum has now expanded its objectives to assist victims of organised violence, using the following definition:
"Organised violence" means the inter-human infliction of significant
avoidable pain and suffering by an organised group according to a
declared or implied strategy and/or system of ideas and attitudes. It
comprises any violent action, which is unacceptable by general human
standards, and relates to the victims’
mental and physical well-being."
The Human Rights Forum operates a Research and Documentation Unit and
offers legal services to assist victims of organised violence and
torture claim compensation from perpetrators through its Public
Interest Unit.
Member organisations of the Human Rights Forum are:
· Amnesty International (Zimbabwe) (AI (Z))
· Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
· Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
· Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
· Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
· Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
· Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC)
· Transparency International (Zimbabwe) (TI (Z))
· Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
· Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO)
· Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)
· Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)
· Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
· Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
· Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)
· Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) – ZimOnline
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