Back to Index

Human rights monitoring report - September 2007
Zimbabwe Peace Project
November 08, 2007

Download this document
- Word 97 version (1,775KB)
- Adobe PDF version (4,341KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking here.

In this issue

Provincial highlights

Harare - Victimization continues over the wearing of MDC and NCA T-shirts.

Mashonaland East/ Midlands - Gender based violence continues with two cases of politically motivated rape recorded.

Masvingo - Soldiers and war veterans have allegedly invaded and evicted farmers from some Sugar plantations in Chiredzi.

Mashonaland West - Intra party violence over comments on Constitutional Amendment 18.

Mashonaland Central - Some persons victimized for listening to Studio seven and reading the Zimbabwean Newspaper.

Executive Summary

• The month saw the two major political parties MDC and Zanu PF agree on Constitutional Amendment 18, following the SADC brokered talks. The Bill paves way for synchronization of Presidential and Legislative elections. The Bill proposes the increase of constituencies from 120 to 210 Constituencies and from 66 Senators to 93. The Bill also provides for the incumbent President to appoint a successor. The agreement has resulted in mixed feelings with some being sceptical over whether this agreement guarantees free and fair elections. On the ground, ZPP recorded that intolerance is still high, despite agreement of the ruling and opposition party.
• The schools opened and teachers were on strike over low salaries. The strike has been on going since last term. This resulted in victimization of some teachers, who are members of the Progressive Teacher Union of Zimbabwe and those who were absent from work during the day when a strike was called. Cases were recorded in Harare and Mashonaland East.
• Two cases of rape were recorded with one in Mashonaland East and another in the Midlands.
• State agents including, the police continue to perpetrate human rights violations with some police officers asking people to chant Zanu PF slogans.
• Some villagers have been displaced for allegedly supporting the MDC. In some cases, the Village Heads and Chiefs have told villagers that those who do not support the ruling party can expect to receive land and food from 'Blair' or 'Britain'. In some cases, the eviction of villagers is preceded by singing of liberation songs at the homes of the victims at night.
• Access to information still remains a challenge particularly in rural areas where some citizens were victimized for listening to Studio Seven and for reading the Zimbabwean newspaper. These are the few sources which offer an alternative source of the information distinct from the state controlled media.
• Freedom of expression continues to go unabated as some persons were victimized for wearing MDC T- shirts. The people found wearing these T/ shirts have been asked to remove the t- shirts which are then torn or burnt there and then. In some cases those found wearing the t- shirts are then asked to chant Zanu PF slogans
• In the Midlands, there were incidences of members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), being victimized for mobilizing people for a stay away.
• There is also a significant number of incidents of people being victimized for expressing their views on the current economic hardships.

Download full document 

Visit the ZPP fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP