The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) said women were often sexually assaulted and raped during political violence and in many cases as punishment for the political beliefs of their husbands or other male relatives.
With increasing talk of a referendum to decide on a new constitution expected later this year and general elections to follow the plebiscite, women — and many of them victims of rape and other abuse during past elections — are living in fear they could be targeted once more, the group said in a statement at the weekend.
It said: "As the country heads for the constitution referendum and presidential elections, the security of women is of major concern as most fear reliving the violations of the 2008 elections.
“Most women became victims of rape, torture and intimidation either for participating in politics or being married or related to men who are actively involved in politics …. it is of utmost importance that government takes into cognisance the need to protect women from being exposed to unwarranted human rights violations.”
Political violence and human rights abuses, which are resurgent in several parts of the country, have accompanied Zimbabwe’s elections since the emergency of the MDC party as the first real electoral threat to President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) party.
The last major election in 2008 was marked by violence mostly perpetrated by President Robert Mugabe’s shock troops, war veterans and youth militia and members of the military, which left at least 200 supporters of then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dead and thousands of others displaced.
Analysts fear fresh elections to choose a new government to replace the Harare coalition administration could see a return to more violence than three years ago because the government has not implemented required political reforms including restructuring the armed forces to ensure peaceful and democratic polls.
Post published in: Politics