Human Rights Violations Update. 1.0 Summary of Violations. Heal Zimbabwe recorded a total of 15 cases of human rights violations from 10 districts from the 16 th - 22 th of September 2017. Two recurring categories of human rights violations were recorded, these include intimidation (with threats of violence or threats of withdrawal of food aid or agricultural inputs) and forced participation (in political meetings, financial or material contributions). Intimidation continuously top the list of cases recorded this week with 86.66% (13 cases) and forced attendance to political gatherings recording 13.33% (2 cases). Heal Zimbabwe observed that for the third time in a row, the recorded human rights violations are mainly centred on the, (i) Falsehoods around the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration process country wide and the, (ii) ZANU PF restructuring meetings currently taking place in local communities. Heal Zimbabwe notes with great concern the continued prevalence of human rights violations linked to intimidation in local communities. With the recent launch of the new Biometric Voter Registration process at 63 centres countrywide, local communities have not been spared of victimisation mainly perpetrated by suspected ZANU PF activists. Cases where suspected opposition supporters were denied proof of residence have been recorded. Local rural communities have mixed feelings over the BVR process due to the intimidation coined around the process. People are being threatened by well-known ZANU PF supporters that the new BVR process allows the ruling party to monitor voting trends thus knowing who would have voted for the opposition. Heal Zimbabwe continuously perceives intimidation as a barrier towards the realisation of peace in Zimbabwe and a stumbling block to the achievement of a democratic society as provided for in the Constitution. 1
2.0 Nature of Violations Recorded. Nature of Human Rights Violations Recorded 13 2 Forced contributions/participation to Political gatherings Intimidation 2.1 Number of Cases Recorded by District. 2.5 Distribution of Violations by District 2 2 2 2 2 2 1.5 1 1 1 1 1 1 0.5 0 Distriction of Violations by District Zaka Chivi Bikita Gutu Mberengwa Muzarabani Mt Darwin Hurungwe Wedza Mutasa The above diagram indicates the distribution of human rights violations by district. The distribution reveals that human rights violations were recorded in a total of 10 Districts that are: Zaka, Chivi, Bikita, Gutu, Mberengwa, Muzarabani, Mt Darwin, Hurungwe, Wedza and 2
Mutasa. Heal Zimbabwe observed that the human rights violations recorded in this period were committed by 18 perpetrators (16 males and 2 females). ZANU PF topped the list of the perpetrators with 11 (10 males and 1 female), followed by War veterans with three (all males), Councillors recorded three (1 female and 2 males) and one traditional leader (male). Heal Zimbabwe predicts an increase in the number of human rights violations as the country heads towards a full blown voter registration process and campaign period. The victims recorded in this week include opposition supporters, traditional leaders and community members. 3.0 Our Intervention on Human Rights Violations. Heal Zimbabwe is dedicated to protecting and assisting survivors of torture so that they are able to access justice and requisite social services in time. The organisation is also engaged in several peace building activities including engaging and dialoguing with perpetrators of political violence in a niche to promote peace and social cohesion in local communities. Furthermore, Heal Zimbabwe forwarded the recorded human rights cases for further investigation and redress to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Heal Zimbabwe is however greatly concerned by the falsehoods coined around the BVR process, and implores ZEC to intervene to ensure that communities participate in the process from an informed position. HZT further calls for political parties to promote peace as they campaign and desist from using unconstitutional and intimidatory tactics when enticing potential voters. HZT yearns to ensure that all the citizens including those in remote rural areas enjoy peace and are allowed to exercise their democratic right to participate in electoral processes without fear of being victimised. Heal Zimbabwe is currently rolling out a National Peace Campaign dubbed 13 million Voices for Peace, #13MilVoices4Peace aimed at promoting peace and tolerance ahead of the election. The organisation through the peace campaign is also targeting youths to promote peace and desist from engaging in violent activities before, during and after the elections. 3
4.0 Conclusion. The period under review was generally peaceful although covert cases of human rights violations were recorded especially around the ongoing voter registration process. Heal Zimbabwe condemns in the strongest terms all forms of human rights violations and calls for all the political parties and relevant stakeholders to promote peace and desist from perpetuating fear and violence in the communities. HZT further calls for community members to peacefully co-exist despite different political views. The organisation implores the ZEC and ZHRC to launch investigations into the recorded human rights cases and ensure that the survivors receive justice. 5.1 Annexure: Specific Cases Recorded: 4
Masvingo Gutu West ward 5 Intimidation ZANU PF ward chairman, George Chidhuza intimidated community members during a ZANU PF meeting on the 19 th of September 2017 at Gapare Business Centre. Chidhuza highlighted that the BVR machines allows the ruling party to monitor voting patterns hence the party will be able to dictate who would have voted for the opposition in the area. Chidhuza further highlighted that all the sell outs will be beaten next year if ZANU F fails to win the elections. Gutu ward 6 Intimidation Councillor Michael Bhema intimidated community members during a community meeting conducted on the 21 st of September 2017 at Vuzhe Business Centre. Bhema highlighted that the Biometric Voter Registration process through the capturing of fingerprints and images allows ZANU PF to monitor who would have voted against it. He further threatened that all those who vote for the opposition in the 2018 elections shall be identified and beaten up. Bikita East ward 18 Intimidation Councillor Philemon Chigamba intimidated community members during a WARDCO meeting conducted on the 19 th of September 2017 at Chigunde ward centre. Councillor Chigamba ordered all the village heads to compile names of people within their jurisdiction and make sure they vote for ZANU PF in the pending elections. Chigamba highlighted that all those who defy the order will be beaten up in the upcoming elections. Bikita ward 9 Intimidation ZANU PF ward chairman Philip Dhliwayo and Councillor Sabina Kudzongonya intimidated community members during a community meeting conducted on the 20 th of September 2017. Dhliwayo and Kudzongonya forced community members to chant ZANU PF slogans. Dhliwayo highlighted that all opposition supporters will be heavily beaten and evicted from the area before the 2018 elections. Zaka Central ward 19 Intimidation ZANU PF District Chairman, David Kumutsana intimidated community members during a community meeting conducted on the 20th of September 2017 at Mutamba Primary School. Kumutsana highlighted that the BVR process will assist ZANU PF to monitor voting patterns and threatened violence on those who shall choose to vote for the opposition. 5
Chivi South ward 25 Intimidation Councillor Zivai Tinarwo intimidated traditional leaders during a community meeting conducted on the 16th of September 2017 at Madzivire Diptank. Councillor Tinarwo highlighted that village heads in the ward should ensure that everyone within their jurisdiction vote for ZANU PF in 2018. All those who defy the order will be detected through the new Biometric Voter Registration process and severely beaten up next year. Manicaland Mutasa Central ward 11 - Intimidation Village head Oliver Sakupwanya intimidated community members on the 19 th of September 2017 at the ward centre meeting. He ordered everyone in the ward to attend ZANU PF meetings or risk being beaten up before the elections. Wedza ward 2 Intimidation A war veteran only identified as Magumbo and a member of the ZANU PF Women s league identified as Mrs Soro intimidated community members during a ZANU PF restructuring meeting conducted on the 16 th of September 2017 at Felo Business Centre. Magumbo ordered that everyone in the ward should vote for ZANU PF in the upcoming elections or risk being beaten up and evicted from the area. Mashonaland Central Muzarabani ward 8 - Intimidation ZANU PF District Chairman, Denshort Mazarura intimidated community members during a ZANU PF restructuring meeting conducted on the 18 th of September 2017 at Maringazuva Business Centre. Mazarura highlighted that voting patterns will be monitored using the Biometric Voter Registration process. He further indicated that all those who vote against ZANU PF will be heavily beaten in the coming elections. Muzarabani ward 8 - Intimidation ZANU PF District Political Commissar Hamunyari Kamusengezi and ZANU PF District Chairman Denshort Mazarura intimidated community members on the 16 th of September 2017 at Muzarabani Growth Point. Kamusengezi and Mazarura were moving around the Growth Point threatening people heading to the BVR centres with violence if they vote against ZANU 6
PF next year as the Biometric Voter Registration process allows them to monitor voting patterns. Mt Darwin ward 19 Forced attendance to political gatherings and intimidation ZANU PF ward chairman, Knowledge Rwodzi and his Vice Chairman, Clever Kanyemba forced community members to attend a ZANU PF meeting and intimidated them during the meeting conducted on the 20 th of September 2017 at Dolphin Primary School. Rwodzi and Kanyemba highlighted everyone who will campaign and vote for the oppositions shall be beaten and evicted from the area before the 2018 elections. Mashonaland West Hurungwe East ward 33 Intimidation ZANU PF ward chairman Happiness Kapumha intimidated community members who were preparing to register to vote on the 19 th of September 2017. Kapumha inhibited traditional leaders from giving well known opposition activists proof of residence. He ordered that the traditional leaders should only give the proof of residence to people whom they know will definitely vote for ZANU PF in the 2018 elections. Midlands Mberengwa ward 10 Forced attendance to political gatherings and Intimidation War Veterans Siza Masarira and Ngonidzashe Mabvumba intimidated and forced community members to attend a ZANU PF meeting conducted on the 18th of September 2017 at Mt Belingwe Business Centre. Masarira and Mabvumba moved around the ward forcing community members to attend the meeting. During the meeting, Masarira stated that all those who fail to attend ZANU PF meetings consistently shall be heavily beaten up before the 2018 elections. Heal Zimbabwe We, envision a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe that celebrates diversity within local communities. Our mission is to prevent and transform conflicts with a particular focus of social justice. Our report records human rights violations mainly from key conflict and violence hotspots. 7