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PRINCIPLES
& GUIDELINES
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COMPLIANCE
|
INCIDENTS/DEVELOPMENTS
(During
the time-period stated above)
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|
Full
Participation of citizens in the political process
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NO
|
20 August -
the government gazetted a draft NGO bill containing provisions that
will severely curtail the activities of those NGO’s operating in
the areas of governance and human rights
11 September
- After an MDC rally in Harare
to celebrate the party’s 5th anniversary, Zanu PF youth
militia violently attacked MDC activists as they travelled home
from the rally. Two activists, Jabusile Shumba (Vice-President
of Zimbabwe National Students Union) and Brighton Makunike (Chair
of MDC University of Zimbabwe branch) were handed over to the police
by members of the militia. The police proceeded to assault the MDC
activists for wearing MDC regalia.
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|
Freedom
of Association
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NO
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12 MDC rallies
have been banned by police
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Political
Tolerance
|
NO
|
1 September
- members of the Zanu PF youth militia attack the home of MDC Secretary
for Local Government, Joubert Mudzumwe. His two sons, Silent (17)
and Maxwell (16) were brutally attacked. The police made no arrests.
7 September
– police raid MDC offices in Bulawayo
on the spurious pretext of looking for ‘subversive material’.
15 September
– Theresa Makone, aspiring MDC candidate for Hwedza, was arrested
and charged for allegedly damaging a government truck at a recent
MDC meeting. She denies the charge.
19 September
– Chief Eliah Murape threatened with death by Zanu PF militia for
attending MDC meetings.
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Equal
opportunity for all political parties to access the state media
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NO
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10 September
- an MDC MP attempted to place an advert in the government controlled
Chronicle to promote a ‘report back’ meeting in his constituency.
The paper refused to print the advert. In the presidential elections
in 2002, 97% of television and radio coverage of the political campaign
time was given to Zanu PF. The MDC other political parties and civic
groups received 3% of the coverage.
20/09/04 The state broadcaster has announced
that it will not accord MDC airtime. The ZBC claimed that it was
not covering the MDC because the party had pulled out of the elections
for 2005. If the party was participating it would be accorded time
during a defined election period. Zanu PF is accorded airtime on
ZBC daily inside and outside any election period.
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Constitutional
and legal guarantees of freedom and rights of citizens
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NO
|
There has been
no move to repeal those aspects of the Public Order and Security
Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
that place severe limitations on citizens’ basic civil and political
rights – e.g. freedom of speech, assembly and association and the
right to receive and impart information
|
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Conducive
environment for free, fair and peaceful elections
|
NO
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The militia
remains in place and continues to torture and maim people. Chiefs
continue to write people’s names when they go to vote thus intimidation.
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Non-discrimination
in the voters’ registration
|
NO
|
The draft Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission Bill, gazetted on Friday 10 September, will
mean that the exercise of voter registration will remain in the
hands of the office of the Registrar General; an office which has
a proven track-record of manipulating the voter registration process
in the interests of the ruling party.
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Existence
of an up-dated and accessible voters’ roll
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NO
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The voter’s
roll remains a state secret. Particularly the rural folk to vote
for them.
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Establish
impartial, all-inclusive, competent and accountable national electoral
bodies
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NO
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Mugabe will
appoint the chair of the proposed Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
whilst the other four members will be chosen from a list provided
by a Parliamentary committee dominated by Zanu PF.
The majority
of the individuals appointed to the Delimitation Commission by Mugabe
on 14 September, have long and close ties with Zanu PF and have
a history of acting in an overtly partisan manner.
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Ensure
that adequate security is provided to all parties participating
in elections
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NO
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The
police and other state security agents continue to be partisan
and deny MDC members protection of the law.
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Independence
of the judiciary
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NO
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Safeguard
the human and civil liberties of all citizens, including the freedom
of movement, assembly, association, expression and campaigning
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NO
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1 September
- police broke up a peaceful demonstration organised by the National
Constitutional Assembly against the proposed NGO Bill. Many demonstrators
were beaten and 41 arrested.
8 September
– MDC MP Nelson Chamisa arrested for allegedly holding an illegal
meeting in his constituency
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Counting
of votes at polling stations
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NO
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Although the
government has announced plans to ensure that votes are counted
at polling stations no law has been enacted to implement this.
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Voter
Education
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NO
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Polling
stations should be in neutral places
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NO
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No law has been
passed to ensure polling stations are in neutral places.
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Regular
intervals as provided for by the respective National Constitutions
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YES
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The constitution
provides for parliamentary and presidential elections every 5
years and 6 years respectively.
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Take all
necessary measures and precautions to prevent the perpetration of
fraud, rigging or any other illegal practices throughout the whole
electoral process in order to maintain peace and security
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NO
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The state continues
to use food as a political weapon against its opponents.
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