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ZPP monitors post-election violence
Zimbabwe Peace Project
May 08, 2008

The Zimbabwe Peace Project is deeply concerned about the ongoing post election violence which seems to have gone up another level since the announcement of the presidential results. The violence is leaving a trail of loss of life and property. In the last few days ZPP has documented two cases of murder. In April alone ZPP has documented 4331 cases of politically motivated human rights violations among these 10 were politically motivated murders. In the whole of 2007, ZPP recorded 8233 cases of politically motivated human rights violations and the figure for April has broken all records since Operation Murambatsvina.

The pattern has been consistent where MDC activists, human rights activists, known supporters of other political parties and domestic election observers are targeted. Groups made up of soldiers, war veterans, youth militias are camping at specific places from where they convene meetings and those targeted are named and justice is meted in the presence of the community. In some instances whole homesteads and targeted huts are set on fire. In some cases livestock is being destroyed and the case in point is Uzumba. While in detention the victims are forced to denounce their parties and they are assaulted with fists booted feet and logs while they sleep heads down.

ZPP monitors report that on May 3 Gladys Makoni an MDC activist in Headlands was fatally assaulted by soldiers for being active in opposition politics. The soldiers accompanied by a number of war veterans pounced on her home, accused her of spreading opposition propaganda and started beating her until she died. The deceased's grandmother who lived with her has since fled the area for fear of further attacks.

ZPP is also concerned about the disruption of schools in most rural communities in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland and parts of the Midlands as some schools have been turned into torture camps.

Reports from Uzumba Chidodo village indicate that a group of about 200 youths perpetrating violence in the area are being supported with food by the Prisons' Chief Paradzai Zimondi whose grinding mill is providing mealie meal and piggery project donating pigs to the youths.

Reports coming in show that violence is also now creeping into the Matebeleland region that had been relatively calm. It is not fair for people to be victimized for exercising their right to choice and assembly.

If the date for the run off continues unknown the perpetrators will continue with their menace and more people will continue to be displaced raising fears that thousands of people will be disenfranchised when the election does finally happen through displacements and also the loss of important identification documentation going up in smoke when homesteads are set on fire. The presidential runoff should be held within the stipulated timeframes.

The victimisation of election observers is continuing with the latest victim, Seizer Kufandiko, having lost property when his house was burnt in Wadzanai location, in Shamva. The perpetrators were ZANUPF supporters who were led by war veterans Moses Thole, Manhambara, and Gore Chiyanike who came from Tipperary farm. Moses Thole's group is threatening to deal with all those seen wearing green T-shirts during the elections. At Shamva gold mine however, Moses Thole's group met resistance from MDC supporters as they retaliated by damaging property belonging to supporters of ZANU PF.

At Logan farm in Shamva South about 160 ex-farm workers had their huts burnt down by war veterans who occupied the farm. The war veterans were led by one only identified as Zvidzai.

ZPP has also established a list of bases that have been established in different parts of the country and in some instances we have also been able to identify the leaders of the bases.

The growing humanitarian situation demands the immediate response of international and local organisations with resources to assist those in dire need of accommodation, blankets, food and safety.

ZPP therefore urges ZANUPF, and all other parties involved in this violence to start respecting the rights of others and thus put an end to the suffering of people forthwith. 'Operation wavhotera papi' is illegal and the government is called upon to put an end to it forthwith. The police force is challenged to bring sanity so as to prove their zero tolerance to political violence.

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