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Political violence Report – March 2007 - Overview
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
May 10, 2007

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Overview

In instances reminiscent of September 2006 , Zimbabwe again witnessed despicable levels of politically motivated violence perpetrated by state agents including the ZRP, CIO, alleged ZANU PF supporters and in some instances suspected MDC supporters. The Human Rights Forum notes that this report does not even cover the whole length and breadth of the violence that occurred in March. However, the report does show that the epitome of the violence was on 11 March. This was when opposition political party leaders, supporters, civil society activists, church leaders and scores of the general Zimbabwean public were brutalised and arrested for converging at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield for an intended prayer meeting. A number of the victims on that fateful day were incarcerated in police stations dotted across Harare. Furthermore, the ZRP shot and killed one Gift Tandari, NCA member, allegedly for being the 'ring - leader' in the running battles that ensued between the police and the people intending to have the prayer meeting.

Following the violence on 11 March, an orgy of violence and resurgence in abductions ensued, mainly perpetrated against human rights defenders, MDC supporters and leadership reportedly by state security agents. Another disturbing trend has been the abduction of MDC supporters by suspected CIO agents usually driving unmarked vehicles. The abductees in most instances have been dumped outside Harare after having been tortured. Cases of lawyers being physically and verbally assaulted whenever they visited their clients at police stations have been recorded. The situation was so bad that in some of the cases, lawyers witnessed their clients being tortured in front of them.

In the same month the ZRP was involved in two raids on the ZCTU and CHRA offices in Harare on 13 and 23 March respectively. The particular raid on the ZCTU was ostensibly meant to look for politically offensive material that could cause public alarm and despondency.

On 17 March, security was heightened at the Harare International Airport for unspecified reasons. However, Arthur Mutambara (President of the Pro - Senate MDC faction), Sekai Holland and Grace Kwinjeh all senior members of the Tsvangirai led MDC faction on separate occasions, were denied permission to leave the country for South Africa. The latter two wanted to seek further medical treatment. On the following day, Nelson Chamisa (MDC MP for Kuwadzana) was brutally assaulted by unknown persons at the same airport. Chamisa was on his way to an African - Carribean - Pacific - European Union Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Belgium.

The callousness of the ZRP was clearly exhibited when they shot and wounded 2 MDC supporters at Gift Tandari's funeral wake in Glen View on 13 March. As this report will show, the police have also been involved in cruel acts of setting their trained dogs on victims, causing great injury.

28 March climaxed the mode of violence in March when Harvest House, the HQ of the Tsvangirai led MDC, was raided by heavily armed police. Business came to a halt in the greater part of the city centre whilst police conducted searches of the offices for alleged weapons. Scores of people including MDC employees were arrested, bussed to Harare Central Police Station where they were severely tortured.

Cumulative figures at March show that there were 254 cases of torture, 356 of assault, 1 444 violations on the rights to freedom of association, assembly and movement. The Human Rights Forum notes and deplores the resurgence of abductions by the state as a form of harassment and intimidation against opposition supporters and human rights defenders. In March 8 cases of abductions were recorded.

The Human Rights Forum notes with great dismay the speeches by President Robert Mugabe condoning violence on 15 and 29 March . The President said the police would bash anyone who provoked them. These sentiments have been emphasized by his two security ministers who in separate interviews mentioned that 'we don't arrest anybody and torture people in Zimbabwe' 'people are being beaten for provoking the police . . . and I'm happy with the work they did'. The Human Rights Forum urges the Government of Zimbabwe to desist from using such statements as they fuel political divisions, expose government's intolerance to dissent and create a false sense of impunity for those who commit these heinous crimes.

Finally, the Human Rights Forum condemns violence from any quarter and calls upon the Zimbabwean government to expeditiously, investigate, prosecute and discipline its security officials or any private individuals who have been actively participating in the torture and harassment of Zimbabwean citizens without fear or favour.

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