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Political
violence report: August 2006 - Overview
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
September 29, 2006
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Overview
The month of August was characterised by a fairly low number of civic
activities as compared to the previous month. However, a number of
human rights violations took place and were reported to us. Police
arrested about 153 activists from Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) in Bulawayo following a procession to
protest the introduction and implementation of the Monetary Policy
by the Reserve Bank Governor. Of the activists arrested, 13 were breasteeding,
26 were juveniles, and 1 was on Anti-Retroviral Therapy. The activists
were taken to five different holding places which are Bulawayo Central,
Sauertown, Mzilikazi, Queens Park and Barbourfields Police Stations.
It is reported that some of the juveniles complained of beatings from
the police. The Human Rights Forum would like to urge the responsible
authorities to protect the freedoms of association and expression
as well as the right to demonstrate as enshrined in the Constitution
of Zimbabwe and other international human rights instruments.
In another case of wrongful
shooting, Prince Chabuda was shot dead on 29 August along High Glen
Road by plain-clothes police detectives who are reported to have
mistaken the vehicle he was travelling in for one that was being
used by a gang of robbers. The deceased, who was travelling in a
Ford Laser motor vehicle as a backseat passenger, died on the way
to Harare Central Hospital. He sustained gunshot wounds after the
detectives, patrolling in an unmarked car, fired on the vehicle
during a chase. The Forum notes this incident with great concern
considering that another wrongful shooting by the police took place
in the previous month. The Forum would again want to appeal to the
police to exercise extreme caution when discharging their duties.
A case of intra-party
violence took place in the month of August. It is reported that
on 28 August, a group of rowdy youths aligned to the Mutambara Faction
of the MDC, besieged MDC offices in Matebeleland North demanding
that officials belonging to the Tsvangirai faction vacate the premises.
The Anti-Senate faction officials were allegedly threatened with
violence if they did not leave the premises. The Forum deplores
such violence and urges the MDC and any other party to resolve their
differences amicably.
Four leaders from the
Christian Alliance were arrested and later released without charge
after being questioned about the activities of their organisation.
The four arrested were Bishop Levy Kadenge, Reverend Chigwida, Mr.
Pious Wakatama and Reverend Magaya and his wife. They were arrested
at the Snake Park 20 kilometres outside Harare after a Bulawayo
meeting of the Christian Alliance leadership. The Forum urges the
police to desist from the practice of illegally detaining innocent
civilians and releasing them without a charge.
Totals: 1 August 2006 – 31 August
2006
Cumulative Totals:
1 January 2006 – 31 August 2006
The
graph should be read along with the table depicting the monthly
totals of violations from 1 January 2006 to 31 August 2006. The
total quantifiable number of victims reported in August 2006 is
171.
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