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Fortnightly Monitoring Report for March 2005
Weeks 3-4 (16th-31st March 2005)
Zimbabwe Peace Project
March 2005

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Executive Summary
Despite assurances and claims by the government that peace would prevail in the run up to the March 31^st general elections, the situation on the ground is completely at a tangent with this these claims.

According to reports from the ZPP’s community-based primary monitors the political tension currently permeating the country’s legislative electoral constituencies is a sure indication that the prospect of a free and fair election being held is highly questionable.

In Mutare South on 19 March 2005, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) youths guarding the venue of their party’s rally at Munyarari were allegedly assaulted by Zanu PF youth militia led by war veterans M and MN. It is alleged that after the assault, the assailants urinated in the victims’ cooking pots, food stuffs and ripped open bags of mealie-meal before relieving themselves into the bags.

It was reported that on the 24^th in Mabvuku, T, an MDC supporter was kidnapped along Guzha Street before being systematically tortured by three unidentified Zanu PF youth militia who accused the victim of being aligned to the MDC.

Arson attacks, though having occurred negligently, were employed by rowdy political activists in the capital. It was reported that on the 17^th in Mutasa South, Zanu PF activists, DG, LT, TS and others set fire to houses belonging to MDC members JP, LK and GM destroying property worth more that $8 million in the Muchena area.

It is alleged that on the 16^th in Mabvuku SG, an MDC supporter was thoroughly assaulted and had his car torched by six Zanu PF youths belonging to the notorious Chipangano militia group after they accused him of supporting what they called a ‘sell-out’ party at Matongo shops.

Midlands recorded an unusually high number of violence cases, most of which were allegedly perpetrated by Zanu PF supporters. In Gokwe (Kana), a Zimbabwe Electoral Commission official, MT was, on the 17^th allegedly harassed by SM, a Zanu PF supporter who was inexplicably angry after having been informed that the March 31^st ballot boxes would be transparent.

The ZPP finds it quite worrying to note that the country’s uniformed forces, who are essentially supposed to be impartial, continue to portray themselves as partisan. In Gokwe, an AB of Mapfungautsi residential area was alleged forced by police details to join a Zanu PF slogan drill in which some members of the uniformed forces were alleged to have participated on the 16^th. In Harare North on the 22^nd, two police officers allegedly harassed RN, JP and T for putting up campaign posters in Mabelreign.

Intra-party clashes have been occurring sporadically. In Dzivarasekwa, on 17 March, RC, an MDC supporter was allegedly assaulted by fellow party members KD and TS who were riled at the said victim’s election as a local Chairperson.

Displacements have also occurred as a result of political differences. In Seke for example, JR, an MDC supporter was reportedly displaced from Brenton farm on the 16^th by five war veterans led by NM and CM

Incidents of kidnapping have also been reported as having been rife. It was reported that on the 16^th in Buhera South, JC, a Zanu PF activist from Chapanduka was kidnapped and severely assaulted by three MDC activists MA, AJ and CM.

Politicisation of food has been a countrywide phenomenon. In Buhera, two MDC supporters, M and M were allegedly assaulted by three war veterans, M, MN and M who are also said to have barred the two from accessing maize from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) at Zangana Business Centre.

The ZPP urges all political parties to exercise tolerance especially after the polls. We also commend the country’s law enforcement agencies for reacting in good time to resolve some of the violent situations associated with the elections. The police must at all times exercise their duties in a non-partisan manner to remain credible.

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