zimbabwe: report details violence around elections

ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM
POLITICAL VIOLENCE REPORT
AUGUST 2003
22 September 2003
A report by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

OVERVIEW
Politically motivated violence in August 2003 largely took the form of inter-party violence surrounding the Urban Council Elections held on 30/31 August 2003. Pre – election reports of political violence were received from Bulawayo, Chegutu, Norton and Gwanda among others. In Gwanda (Matebeleland South), there were reported disputes between the opposition MDC and the ruling ZANU PF as both parties clashed over rally venues. Dumisani Dube sustained injuries after ZANU PF youths assaulted him. In Mhondoro constituency (Mashonaland West), LN reported that a group of Zanu (PF) youths stoned MDC supporters at Katanga polling station in Norton. He claims that the perpetrators barred MDC supporters from casting their votes and that he was also assaulted with a metal rod on the forehead and with a brick on his back. In the same constituency, SM asserts that ZANU PF youths abducted him from the Ward 7 polling station, took him to their base and then assaulted him. He claims that he was driven to a bushy area, ordered to lie on his stomach, had his hands and feet tied with a rope, blindfolded and then assaulted with wooden logs. LK, a polling agent at another polling station in Norton, alleges that he was stoned and assaulted with logs and whips by ZANU PF supporters because he was an agent for the opposition MDC.
In Chitungwiza (Harare Province), TS reported that he and others were severely assaulted by three ZANU PF youths while campaigning for the MDC candidate in the run up to the Urban Council Elections. In Hatfield constituency (Harare Province), FJ was allegedly assaulted and evicted from home by ZANU PF supporters on accusations of being an MDC sympathiser. In Bulawayo and Mutare, voters alleged that cash was issued out and food hand-outs were promised in the event the ruling party won in the elections. Shadreck Moyo, MDC polling agent for Edward Musumbu in Norton, asserts that he was blindfolded, severely assaulted and then dumped outside Norton by ZANU PF supporters. The Human Rights Forum urges all political parties in Zimbabwe, ZANU PF and MDC as the two main political parties in particular, to take meaningful steps towards achieving an environment of peaceful political pluralism.
An apparent culture of political intolerance prevails in the country, characterised by violence, intimidation and in particular, intolerance of freedom of expression. Action Shamhu was allegedly struck on the neck with a broken bottle by ZANU PF supporters, on accusations of discussing party politics with his cousin at a beer hall in Kuwadzana (HARARE PROVINCE). He died from excessive bleeding.
The Human Rights Forum reminds all political parties that all Zimbabweans have a right in terms of s21 of the Constitution to ‘assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to political parties or trade unions or other associations’. The onus is on political parties to urge their supporters to be tolerant of Zimbabwean citizens’ choice of political party and to condemn victimisation on this basis. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has a duty to make accountable all perpetrators of political violence, regardless of their political affiliation.
There was a marked reduction in reportage of torture by state agents in August, a development welcomed and commended by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. We call upon state agents to desist from perpetrating human rights violations. We further call upon the Zimbabwe Government to investigate and make accountable perpetrators of gross human rights violations in the past.

For the full report, contact [email protected]