The Forums — grouping 16 local groups involved in human rights work
and assisting victims of organised violence — warns that that
Zimbabwe faces more violence in future elections unless more was done
now to ensure justice and closure for those wronged in the political
violence of the past. Excerpts from the report:
Overview
The month of March saw a continuation of the disturbances on commercial
farms, thwarting of civic activity and political polarisation, as the
rule of law continued to be compromised despite the formation of an
inclusive government. Human rights violations remained a worrying trend
in a society that hopes to transcend from a past of violence, political
polarisation and intimidation, into a new democratic dispensation.
In fact, even though the month shows a reduction, the trend of human rights violations
threatens to distabilise the already fragile peace in the country and
discourage any efforts to bring to an end the socio-economic challenges
that have bedeviled the country for so long.
As in the previous month, clashes between ZANU PF and MDC supporters
were reported in March; another indication that political polarisation
is far from over. Members of both parties have been implicated in
violent retributive attacks, reminiscent of the violence that occurred
pre and post the 2008 harmonised elections.
This report documents incidences in which MDC and ZANU PF supporters
clashed at the funeral of the Prime Minister's late wife Susan
Tsvangirai, leading to massive property destruction. Inter-party
violence was also reported in the Zimunya area as well as in Mufakose
and Glen View.
Anger
These attacks are a sign of deep rooted anger and hatred which still
pervades in Zimbabwe, especially after the violence that occurred in
2008. Many of the victims still bear the physical and emotional scars
of what happened to them during that time.
Much of this anger has been aggravated by seeing the perpetrators of
the violations walking free, and in some cases threatening to do more
harm. Some victims of the 2008 election violence have thus taken the
law into their own hands and have sought revenge on those who wronged
them. This retributive violence raises fears of an even bloodier
election in the future unless more is done to ensure justice and
closure for the wronged.
The ghost of the 2008 pre and post election period continues to haunt
many communities in the country, and this has prevented attempts to
return to some form of normalcy in their day to day activities.
Decline
The total of 155 violations recorded in March is much lower than the
435 recorded in February. There was also a significant decline in the
number of individual violations such as the freedom of
assembly/association/expression which recorded 94 violations in
February as compared to 30 in March.
Another significant decline was in the number of unlawful arrests and
unlawful detentions in which 105 violations were recorded in February
as compared to 31 in March. Violations of political
discrimination/intimidation/victimisation were also on the decline with
37 violations being recorded in March as compared to 110 in February.
The decline in these violations can be attributed largely to the
decrease in civic activity in March as compared to February when a
number of protests occurred
resulting in the arrests and detention of some of the protestors.
The most significant increase was in property related violations which
is attributed to the disturbances that have been occurring on
commercial farms; seven in February and 16 in March. The first
incident of torture in 2009 was recorded in March.
The decrease in the violations recorded in March cannot necessarily be
attributed to an improvement in the human rights situation in Zimbabwe
but basically to a lack of stimulus such as an election or public
protests; although some cautious optimism must be expressed that the
situation will improve under the terms of the GPA.
The Human Rights Forum therefore calls upon the GoZ to put in place
measures to end violence and restore the rule of law. Unless such
measures are taken, Zimbabwe's legacy of violence and human rights
violations will continue unabated.
Sources
The information contained in this report is derived from statements
made to the Public Interest Unit of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO
Forum, its members and statements taken by a network of human rights
activists and newspaper reports,
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 Report cannot be considered as the exhaustive record of all
incidents of politically-motivated violence in Zimbabwe in the period
under review.
All reports derived from the press are denoted by a star symbol.
Selected cases of Violence
Bulawayo Central
25 March 2009
Two WOZA members, Patricia Ndlovu, aged 53, and Georgina Muzaza, aged
84, were arrested whilst trying to engage the Headmistress of Mpumelelo
Primary School over the way the school was being run and the demands
being made by the school on parents. They were charged under Section 37
1 (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act –
participating in gathering with intent to promote public violence,
breaches of the peace or bigotry'. They spent the night at Bulawayo
Central Police
Station before being released the following day after the prosecutor dismissed the case against them.
Harare
Glenview
25 March 2009
The male victim reports that he was severely assaulted by suspected
ZANU PF supporters for being too loyal to the MDC. Two of the
assailants came to the victim' s home at 20:00hrs and dragged him to
their home which is about 100 metres away. Two other men who were
already there then tied his hands and feet. One of the assailants
allegedly told the victim that as he was too loyal to the MDC he had
to be punished.
The victim allegedly tried to negotiate with the assailants arguing
that since the Global Political Agreement had been signed and
consummated, there was no need for parties to continue fighting.
The assailants then took turns to assault the victim using an axe
handle and a baton stick to beat him on his back and under his feet.
He was also beaten on the head twice with the axe handle. One of the
assailants then brought a large dish of cold water into which the
victim was submerged. During the attack, the assailants were playing
loud music to prevent the victim's screams
being heard by passers by.
Glen Norah
31 March 2009
*.A Glen Norah Anglican Parish Priest, Vincent Fenga, was reportedly
arrested and detained for two nights on allegations of inciting public
violence. He was charged together with the assistant priest, a youth
leader and the churchwarden. A group of parishioners, together with
their parish leaders, tried to reclaim the church building that has
been under the control of former Harare Bishop Nolbert Kunonga since
2007.
A man who was in his yard during the disturbances was reportedly shot and
injured by a stray bullet after police fired gunshots and teargas to
disperse the crowd and prevent parishioners from entering the church.
A feud has been raging in the Anglican Church following the stripping
of former Bishop Nolbert Kunonga's credentials to practice as a priest
by the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa.
Mufakose
25 March 2009
Six MDC office bearers report that while holding a meeting at Mufakose
area J Hall, they were assaulted by suspected ZANU PF supporters. The
group of ZANU PF supporters reportedly came to the area J Hall and
disrupted the meeting, demanding to see the Member of Parliament (MP)
and man-handling the MDC party chairman for the Mufakose area. Some of
the assailants then turned on the other MDC officials, assaulting them
with booted feet. The MDC officials managed to flee from the attack
and went to Mufakose Police Station to report the incident
Manicaland
Buhera West
11 March 2009
*Ten homes and livestock belonging to known MDC supporters in Buhera
West were reportedly burnt to the ground after violence erupted between
ZANU PF and MDC supporters at the funeral of the Prime Minister's late
wife Susan Tsvangirai. It is further alleged that family members of MDC
office bearers in the area were targeted for harassment and
intimidation during the spurt of violence. In the Zimunya area,
suspected ZANU PF supporters also reportedly burned the home of MDC
provincial security officer Robert Jack Saunyama.
Mutare Central
6 March 2009
*Mutare Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze was reportedly arrested for
ordering the release of Roy Bennett. He was charged with criminal
abuse of office for allegedly contravening section 174, sub- section 1A
of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9.23. He was
detained at Mutare Central Police Station and released on bail on 7
March 2009.
The Mutare Magistrate's court latter ruled that there was no evidence
that he had committed any offence when he permitted MDC treasurer and
Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate Senator Roy Bennett to pay
bail and later signed a warrant for the politician's release from jail.
Mashonaland Central
Bindura Central
4 March 2009
*Three student leaders, Respect Ndanga, Innocent Kapoya and Kelvin
Veremu, were reportedly arrested and detained at Bindura Central Police
station, following a protest at the campus.
Students reportedly arrived at the University campus while all entry
points were locked, with security guards only allowing in students who
had paid tuition fees. The students then began to protest against
being barred from entering the campus as well as what they complained
was an inadequate reduction of fees by the Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education.
Mashonaland West
Chegutu East
19 March 2009
Suspected ZANU PF supporters reportedly targeted New March farm owned
by Jocky Beattie for occupation. Clever Kunonga, accompanied by police
officers, came to the farm wanting to leave one of the youths taking
part in the occupation in the Beatties' home. Their son, who was at
home at the time, refused to let them into the house and the group
left.
That night, all electrical gadgets and food items were taken from the
house, allegedly by the youths who had come to the house earlier in the
day. A police report was made, but no follow up was done. New March
farm has reportedly been
allocated to a Mr. Chigwada, a Senator for the Mhondoro-Ngezi constituency.
On 19 March 2009 Bill Nicolson of Umfuli Banks farm was forced to leave
his home following a visit from members of the Local Lands Committee
and a police Sergeant Zuze and two others claiming that Mr. Shingrai
Bob Makoni had been designated as the new owner of the farm. Nicolson
was told that Mr. Makoni needed to move into the farm cottage
immediately.
Despite being in possession of, and showing to the police officer
present, a High Court Order, allowing Nicolson to stay on the farm, the
Nicolsons were threatened and had to leave the farm. Mr. Makoni had
been previously arrested following disturbances on Stockdale Estate at
which he allegedly took 14 weapons. He was released on free bail.
Masvingo
Chiredzi
17 March 2009
*Suspected ZANU PF supporters reportedly evicted John Bolland, a
commercial farmer, from his Chidza farm. He was placed on the Masvingo
Police s wanted list on allegations of refusing to leave state
allocated land disregarding earlier notices to do so.
A group of ZANU PF supporters chanting slogans and singing, reportedly
camped outside Bolland's residence and demanded that he leaves the
property within 24 hours. Following the incident, Bolland reportedly
relocated to South Africa.
21 March 2009 — two farmers, Ben Fayd’herbe and Tony Sarpo, were
arrested and detained overnight on allegations of illegally occupying
state property. They had been staying in their homes on their farms.
They were released on free bail and remanded out of custody to 16 April
2009. Two farm supervisors in the area were also reportedly arrested.
23 March 2009 — the farm of Digby Nesbitt, a commercial farmer, was
looted by suspected ZANU PF youths who occupied his farm. Nesbitt and
his family had left the farm ten days earlier following disturbances
there. Upon their return they found most of their furniture and
personal belongings had been taken. They also found an unknown woman in
their kitchen cooking a meal on their stove. The woman claimed she had
been given permission by one Police Commissioner Veterai to use
appliances in the house
Zaka East
23 March 2009
*It is reported that some schools in the Zaka area did not open for the
first term as teachers refused to return to work following threats and
harassment by ZANU PF youths. It is alleged that the teachers refused
to return to the Zaka area, until their security was guaranteed.
Some of the teachers, accused of being MDC supporters, were forced to
flee their homes to cities and towns following victimization by ZANU PF
youths. The most affected schools are reported to be Zivavose
Secondary School, Chitonhora Secondary School and other schools in the
Ndanga area.