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Political
Violence Report: October 2004 - Overview
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
December
07, 2004
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Overview
The treason trial of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on 15 October,
in which he was acquitted of charges of plotting to assassinate
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was the focus of politically motivated
violence in the month of October. Shortly before, during and after
the court hearing for the acquittal of the MDC President, acts of
intimidation and violence against MDC and NCA activists, as well
as university students, increased sharply. Intimidation by state
agents and ZANU PF youths caused several men and women to flee from
their homes for fear of further assaults.
A large number of MDC supporters gathering outside the High Court
to hear the Tsvangirai trial verdict were tear-gassed and assaulted
by riot police. Of those who sought medical assistance, several
had to be treated at or admitted to hospital. In a related incident,
a truck full of Riot Police reportedly dispersed an all-night meeting
of NCA members interceding on Tsvangirai's behalf. A victim claims
that they were assaulted with plastic whips, booted feet and open
palms.
Eleven NCA demonstrators
were arrested during a protest demonstration against the NGO Bill,
and were charged under Section 24 of POSA and made to pay Admission
of Guilt fines of Z$25 000 each. Three photographers and 49 WOZA
(Women of Zimbabwe Arise) women were also arrested for staging a
peaceful demonstration outside Parliament and attempting to present
a petition against the NGO Bill, the objective of their ten-day
walk from Bulawayo. The women were reportedly detained for two nights
in cells at Central Police Station. The photographers were detained
there for one night, and released without charge. They allege that
they witnessed other inmates being assaulted during the night.
At Shop No 8
in Tafara, allegedly a known site for torture, a victim was assaulted
with baton sticks, iron bars, clenched fists and open palms, and
beaten on the soles of his feet, for about two hours; two of six
ZANU PF women who were ordered to urinate on the victim complied,
while males looked on. In sporadic incidents as reported from Mbare,
Kambuzuma, and Zengeza ZANU PF supporters assaulted MDC supporters
after MDC rallies or meetings.
The Human Rights Forum urges the Government of Zimbabwe to take
the necessary preventive steps to forestall political violence,
intimidation, discrimination and victimization by state agents and
individuals who appear to be acting with impunity, especially as
the Parliamentary elections draw nearer.
Totals: 2004
Totals: 1 October - 31 October 2004
Cumulative
Totals: 1 January 2004 - 31 October 2004
Trends for politically
motivated human rights violations: January –October 2004
|
Nature of Violation
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
April
|
May
|
June
|
July
|
Aug
|
Sept
|
Oct
|
Total
|
|
Assault
|
34
|
32
|
109
|
16
|
29
|
12
|
12
|
44
|
41
|
49
|
378
|
|
Abduction/
kidnapping
|
7
|
3
|
12
|
1
|
13
|
6
|
1
|
8
|
6
|
4
|
61
|
|
Displacement
|
5
|
2
|
19
|
6
|
13
|
3
|
4
|
6
|
57
|
69
|
184
|
|
Freedom
of Association / Assembly/ Expression
|
32
|
97
|
18
|
48
|
82
|
140
|
27
|
27
|
142
|
113
|
726
|
|
Murder
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
|
Political
discrimination/ victimisation
|
24
|
100
|
141
|
68
|
35
|
21
|
29
|
31
|
50
|
36
|
535
|
|
Property-related
violations
|
10
|
12
|
35
|
5
|
11
|
4
|
3
|
33
|
29
|
3
|
145
|
|
Torture
|
2
|
74
|
23
|
16
|
18
|
15
|
1
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
169
|
|
Unlawful
Arrest
|
2
|
7
|
16
|
17
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
8
|
141
|
1
|
203
|
|
|
Main Events
|
|
January
|
- ZANU
PF and MDC inter-party violence: pre Gutu North constituency
(Masvingo Province) by-election.
- Violence
in Shamva constituency (Mashonaland Central Province), one
person killed, Alexander Chigega (MDC)
|
|
February
|
- NCA
demonstration to call for a new constitution in Harare Central
constituency (Harare Province) reportedly disrupted by ZRP.
- Violence
on Charleswood Estate, Chimanimani (Manicaland Province)
belonging to MDC MP for Chimanimani, Roy Bennet. One person
killed, Shemi Chimbarara (farm worker)
|
|
March
|
- Inter-party
violence: Zengeza constituency by-election (Harare Province),
majority of victims reportedly MDC supporters/members. One
person killed, Francis Chinozvina (MDC
|
|
April
|
- Post
Zengeza by-election retribution. Main targets reportedly
MDC members.
- Inter-party
violence in Mabvuku constituency (Harare Province).
- MDC
intra-party violence in St Mary’s constituency (Harare Province)
|
|
May
|
- ZANU
PF and MDC inter-party violence: Violence against MDC members
in Mbare East constituency (Harare Province) reportedly
perpetrated by members of Chipangano. Chipangano
is reported to be a ZANU PF youth gang based in Mbare.
- ZANU
PF and MDC inter-party violence: Alleged retribution against
those that attended MDC rally in Chendambuya, Makoni North
constituency (Manicaland Province).
|
|
June
|
- ZRP
reportedly disrupts WOZA meeting on 16 June 2004 in Mpopoma
constituency (Bulawayo Province).
- ZRP
reportedly stops WOZA demonstration in commemoration of
World Refugee Day on 19 June 2004 in Mpopoma constituency
(Bulawayo Province)
|
|
July
|
- Inter-party
violence: ZANU PF youths reportedly attack MDC Provincial
Assembly Meeting in Mvurwi, Mazowe West (Mashonaland Central
Province)
|
|
August
|
- ZANU
PF intra-party violence in Makoni North (Manicaland Province)
where a senior Government Minister is alleged to have instigated
and encouraged his supporters to perpetrate acts of violence
against the supporters of a rival candidate from his own
party.
- ZNA
reportedly torture civilians in Mabvuku, (Harare Province).
- ZANU
PF and MDC inter-party violence in Hatfield (Harare Province).
|
|
September
|
- Porta
Farm residents displaced from a farm they have lived at
for 14 years. The residents were forcefully evicted by the
police and national youth service youths despite a High
Court Order granting them temporary relief from eviction.
- WOZA
women and NCA activists arrested on separate occasions as
they demonstrate against the proposed NGO Bill.
- Political
victimization surrounds the MDC 5th year anniversary
celebrations.
- NCA
youth and gender representatives meeting disrupted by the
police and national service youths in Chikomba, Sadza T/Ship,
Mashonaland East
|
|
October
|
- Political
violence surrounds the delivery of the verdict in the treason
trail of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on 15 October 2004.
- NCA
activists are arrested as they demonstrate against the NGO
Bill; WOZA women and 3 photographers are arrested as the
WOZA
- women
hand a petition to the Speaker of Parliament in conclusion
of their demonstration against the NGO Bill, which began
in late
- September
with a march from Bulawayo to Parliament in Harar
|
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Human Rights NGO Forum fact
sheet
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