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Observers under attack in Mt Darwin East
Zimbabwe Election Support Network
May 06, 2008

Zimbabwe Election Support is urgently appealing to the police and political parties to immediately intervene in putting an end to the ongoing attacks on accredited election observers in Chibara village in Mt Darwin East. The attacks are happening now and so far 8 huts have been torched with property being destroyed. Running battles between observers and these youth are currently in progress.

Following a Sunday 4th of May 2007 meeting called for by ZANU PF and addressed by Siyavuma Chikwasha, a former soldier and notorious perpetrator of assaults on observers in the area, youths from ZANU PF have been on the rampage targeting and physically beating up anyone thought to have observed the March 29 election. A marauding band of at least 200 youths led by a war veteran named Morris Muropa, related to one of the victims, have so far burnt the huts of 4 observers. The failure by the police to intervene and protect these citizens has led the observers having to defend themselves and their property. Known perpetrators include Tambaoga Nyarende, Oriah Nyarende and Martin Katsande.

The continued targeting of observers by ZANU PF supporters in Mashonaland East and Central with little or no assistance from the police is not just worrying but contrary to the Police Commissioner General's assertion of zero tolerance to politically motivated violence.

While there have been calls by the National Secretary for Publicity and Information in ZANU PF for tolerance and peace ahead of the runoff, ZESN pleads with the party to urge its supporters and structures to abstain from the continued onslaught on accredited observers including the confiscation of their t-shirts and accreditation cards which amounts to common criminal behaviour.

ZESN calls upon all responsible authorities to make sure that perpetrators of violence are brought to book. ZEC should also publicly explain and correctly emphasise the role of election observation in ensuring a truly transparent and democratic dispensation.

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