Food, farm inputs politicised

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), incidents of aid

politicisation have been rampant in Lupane West, Hwange West and Binga

South districts of Matabeleland North province.

Matabeleland North recorded cases of harassments mostly around the

issue of partisan distribution of food and other forms of aid with

victims being denied access to aid, the group said.

The campaign to cow opponents ahead of polls likely to take before

mid-2011 has also seen a spike in incidents of political violence

across the country, with ZPP saying it recorded 896 cases of violence

and human rights abuses including assault, intimidation, rape and

torture in October compared to 869 such incidents recorded in the

previous month.

The ZPP said Zanu (PF) militia have set up torture camps in

Mashonaland Central province in a sign of worse things to come.

Torture bases have also been established in Mashonaland Central in

the areas of Muzarabani and Bindura North constituencies leaving

villagers terrified, said the ZPP in its report on political violence

and human rights abuses for the month of October.

The report also showed the intensification of a terror campaign by the

army against supporters of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais

supporters.

The ZPP said soldiers are openly campaigning for President Robert

Mugabe, telling the villagers they would be killed if they do not vote

for Zanu (PF).

Military presence in communities has been a source of constant fear

for villagers, who anticipate a repeat of the 2008 electoral violence

at the hands of the Zanu (PF) militias and serving members of the

army, the ZPP said.

In Mashonaland East province, soldiers at Joko Army Barracks near

Mutoko have resorted to taking their training drills to the villages

instead of their secluded military base in a move meant to instil fear

among the hapless villagers.

The ZPP also said traditional chiefs from Manicaland province were

summoned to a indoctrination workshop where the Brigadier-General

Douglas Nyikayaramba told them to support Zanu (PF) or they would be

deposed from their positions.

Zimbabwe is next year looking to hold a referendum on a new

constitution followed by elections that many analysts have warned

could see a return to violence without political, security and

electoral reforms.

Zimbabwes elections have been characterized by political violence and

gross human rights abuses with the last vote in 2008 ending

inconclusively after the military-led campaign of violence and murder

that forced then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to withdraw from

a second round presidential ballot.

A power-sharing government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai after the

flopped poll was tasked to stabilise the economy, easy political

tensions and write a new and democratic constitution that would ensure

future elections are free and fair.

The coalition government has scored well on the economy but has

struggled on the political front with constitutional reforms marred by

reports of violence and intimidation, while security forces have

continued to threaten the rule of law and human rights.