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Post election violence report No. 2
Zimbabwe Peace Project
June 25, 2008

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Overview

This Report is a follow-up to the ZPP Post Election Violence Report No.1 which had captured post election trends and patterns up to April. In this Report, focus is on new trends and patterns on election violence since the release of presidential election results on 2 May 2008. The Report also seeks to interrogate and explore any possible links between election results and post election violence and on the basis of this, generate tentative recommendations on the way forward.

Since 02 May, there has been a phenomenal escalation of election violence with May recording 6288 cases against April's 4375. By end of May, the record of murder cases had almost doubled to 47 from the April level of 26, with two cases of murder reportedly committed in the first few days of the month. By 20 June, 35 new of murder cases had been recorded. Cases of harassment shot up to 4288, a figure that is almost 4 times the April recording of 1484.

The nature of violence has also visibly changed in terms of scope, profile, pattern, modus operandi and impact. Its profile and pattern have changed with visible shifts to more extreme physical, systematic and retributive acts of violence. Since June there has also been an escalation in retaliatory violence.

In terms of impact, post election violence assumed multiple ripple effects, netting in its wake innocent bystanders such as children, the elderly, the unknown, and in some cases, even livestock. There are reports of innocent children being murdered and traumatized after the burning of their homes, some sustaining severe burns, and others no longer attending schools since their parents have been displaced.

Visibly manifest in patterns of violence is a chilling craving to inflict physical harm, to eliminate, to disenfranchise, to displace, and to starve the political victim and immediate family members by destroying their source of livelihood - features that are reminiscent of scorched earth war strategies. The consistency and uniformity with which these acts of violence were applied smack of a well coordinated program of violence. Alleged involvement of state actors [soldiers, police and CIOs] also point to the possibility of state organized violence.

Also manifest in post election patterns are inclinations towards criminality and lawlessness characterized by upsurges in cases of theft, looting, public abuse, and torching of homes and granaries - patterns that are consistent with hate politics where opponents are viewed as enemies and therefore prime targets for elimination. In urban areas, ruling ZANU PF party youth roam about in the city centre and residential areas intimidating and abusing the public, virtually uncontrolled.

Since mid June, anti- opposition rhetoric has been stepped up as the ruling party presidential candidate reportedly threatens to go back to the bush if the opposition won the 27 June elections. Opposition campaigns have been totally blacked out on ZTV and in Zimpapers, rural areas are virtually sealed off from opposition rallies, the opposition leadership is subjected to sporadic arrests and detentions, their campaign vehicles and buses are reportedly impounded. Reported threats of going back to war in the event of defeat of the ruling party candidate are set to carve the election campaign landscape.

By the end of May, election violence was visibly shifting into urban areas!

Reportedly, mostly targeted were MDC-T activists, agents, suspected and known supporters, human rights NGOs, local election observers and teachers. While cases of MDC involvement in acts of violence have also increased, the main perpetrators are reportedly those from the ruling party with more cases allegedly involving war veterans, ZANU PF youths, militia, ZANU PF councilors and traditional leaders.

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