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Summary findings: Monthly Monitoring Report - October 2007
Zimbabwe Peace Project
December 10, 2007

ZPP has recorded a general decline in incidences of Human Rights violations in the Month of October from 584 recorded cases in September to 445 recorded cases in the month under review.

1. ZPP recorded an upsurge in intra party violence within the ruling ZANU PF party and the main opposition party MDC. A case of harassment emerged in St Mary's within the MDC, Tsvangirai faction as a member was harassed by another for supporting Theresa Makoni instead of Lucia Matibenga. Makoni took over from Matibenga as the head of the MDC Tsvangirai Women's Assembly. Incidences of intra party violence were recorded in Zanu PF involving the Mugabe faction and the Mujuru faction. In Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) in Mashonaland East ward 13, Chimbwanda village an aspiring councillor ganged up with other five Zanu PF youths and physically assaulted another aspiring contestant for the same ward in a bid to deter him from contesting.

2. ZPP recorded the emergence of another group of MDC members emerging from the MDC Tsvangirai in Gweru called MDC Yemasowe. The group allegedly obtained its name from meetings that it used to hold in the veld at night ostensibly stating the meetings were prayer gatherings synonymous with those carried out by the Apostolic Sect members known as Masowe hence MDC Yemasowe. The group is allegedly led by senior party members in Gweru who want to field their own candidates in the coming elections. The ZPP October report outlines nine reported cases of malicious injury to property, assault and other cases of violations within the MDC Tsvangirai faction and the splinter group MDC Yemasowe.

3. The month of October witnessed one case of murder recorded in Matabeleland North. On 28 October 2007 in Hwange East constituency at Isaiah bottle store in Msuna village, two Zimbabwe National Army Soldiers allegedly under the influence of intoxicating substances attacked three men with an axe seriously injuring the three. The three were taken to St Patrick's hospital where the other died. The three individuals were not known to each other and the motive of the violence was not made known to the three. The two soldiers were arrested.

4. In Manicaland cases of assault, intimidation and harassment and unlawful detention were the main forms of violations recorded. A Member of Parliament for Mutasa South is reported to have harassed and intimidated recipients of food at a GMB depot. The MP is reported to have demanded that the recipients have to produce Zanu PF membership cards in exchange of food.

5. NGOs continue to be subjected to different forms of violations during their course of work. ZPP recorded a case where Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) group demonstrating at the Parliament building in Harare Central were arrested and beaten by the Police. A group of 34 NCA members were assaulted by Law and Order police for having attempted to march to Parliament to protest against Constitution Amendment 18. In Kariba, two men of no known affiliation were assaulted by a Zanu PF member, for possessing booklets entitled, Follow the River and you will reach the Sea, published by African Community Publishing Development Trust (ACPDT).

6. The ruling party, Zanu PF continues to stifle people's access to alternative information from the only state owned broadcasting station and few local newspapers. In Mashonaland Central some people were allegedly harassed for listening to Studio 7 and reading The Independent and The Zimbabwean newspapers viewed as opposition tools for regime change.

7. Two politically motivated rape cases were reported in Midlands and Harare during the period under review. In Harare a Kambuzuma MDC stalwart allegedly raped a girl because her mother belonged to Zanu PF. The perpetrator allegedly stated to the victim that his motivation was to teach the victim's family a lesson.

8. Village heads affiliated to Zanu PF continue to intimidate villagers not belonging to Zanu PF with eviction. Cases of displacement were reported in Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Masvingo, Harare and Mashonaland East provinces.

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