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Campaigners for human rights press statement
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
October 26, 2007

Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) would like to put it on record that it is deeply disturbed by reports from the Shamva area of Mashonaland Central Province that some local traditional leaders are openly partisan against known or suspected members of the opposition as well as activists of local civil society organization such as ZimRights, the National Constituitional Assembly (NCA) and others.

Our activists inform us that complaints have been raised against Chiefs Madziva and Mutumba who have the habit of intimidating and denying food assistance to families of members of the opposition and activists of civic organizations. The chiefs have allegedly threatened that all people in question will not benefit from the government programme of supplying agricultural implements to farmers unless they renounce their membership to opposition parties and civic groups.

This is a blatant attack on the people's freedoms of choice and assembly and should be condemned in the strongest terms. People have the right to associate with whomever they choose without fear. We are also of the opinion that traditional leaders should be apolitical and strive to respect the rights and freedoms of their subjects.

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