Increasing cases of violence curtailing enjoyment of rights

After the Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) inaugural rally in Harare over the last weekend 7 members of the party sustained injuries in different attacks with 2 still admitted in hospital and critical. The targeted members were confronted in Harare South areas of Glen Norah, Southlea Park and GlenView. Collen Mbava who sustained injury to his right eye, affecting the retina and Patricia Pfachi who suffered a broken arm and a sprained wrist remain in hospital. Those affected are convinced that their attackers are Zanu PF supporters after they had initially been warned against attending the rally by those said to have been sent by Zanu PF Harare province executive Shadreck Mashayamombe. The attacks were reported at Waterfalls police station under records RRB 2825475 for Mbava and RRB28255476 for Matilda Marichi and RRB2825477 for Blessing Muchena. Party spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire confirmed that on June 27 Marvelous Dzapasi was detained in connection with the violence but was released on June 28.
In the past few weeks Zanu PF supporters disrupted a constituency meeting organized by Zengeza West MP Simon Chidakwa because they feared exposure of those fleecing residents of hard earned resources over land allocation at Nyatsime. In the melee more than seven residents were injured.
While the Constitution guarantees freedom to demonstrate and petition in Section 59, this right is being violated for most citizens who exercise it as most end up being arrested for exercising this right.
With flagrant violations to the right to personal security enunciated in Section 52 (a) ZPP is worried that when citizens are not sure of their security a whole set of other rights are violated among them the Freedom of assembly and association enshrined in the Constitution in Section 58 (1) and (2).
ZPP, a non governmental organization that advances sustainable peace therefore appeals to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission whose function according to Section 243 (1) (f) is to investigate the conduct of any authority or person, where it is alleged that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration of Rights has been violated by that authority or person, to fully investigate these reported cases and take necessary steps to ensure that citizens enjoy their Constitutionally guaranteed rights. As long as other parts of society are left to perpetrate violence without accountability the trend will grow out of proportion.