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Violence continues in some areas
Zimbabwe Peace Project
July 04, 2008

The Zimbabwe Peace Project which has a network of monitors in all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe notes with sadness the continuing incidences of political violence in some parts of the country. Our monitors confirm that police officers from Makoni police station in Chitungwiza raided some bases in the area and made arrests but ZPP has not been able to identify most of those arrested. It is still not clear if the arrested are still in police custody.

ZPP is also appealing to the police force to ensure that sanity returns in most communities where suspected MDC activists have been abused in the most degrading manner. In Mberengwa West, twelve victims of political violence, who had fled to Zvishavane during the run up to the presidential runoff elections, were ordered to pay one ox each by Chief Mapiravana as a fine for being MDC members for them to be pardoned. However, ZPP believes that this is a gross violation of people's rights in particular freedoms of choice, movement and expression. ZPP challenges traditional leaders to foster a culture of tolerance thus protect their subjects rather than to be leaders in unjustified punitive measures meant to advance the interests of one political player. Below are some of the incidences that ZPP has documented in the last few days

Midlands
The situation after elections in Chirumhanzu and Mberengwa is alleged to be bad with opposition supporters continuing to be assaulted and displaced by the ZANU-PF members. Bases that were set up in the pre- election period have not been disbanded. Many victims who had come to Gweru from Chirimhanzu to seek refuge were returned to their homes by the Movement for Democratic change (MDC) on the 2nd of July 2008. The MDC provided transport and in some cases busfares for the victims to go back home. The victims had previously been accommodated by the MDC in the city of Gweru. Among those returning to their homes were George Chinyerere , Mhigo, Ishmael Chivanhu, Clifford Tavengwa, Mrs Chivadza, Mrs Magurupira, Ruramai Chingura, Simba Chikava, Martin and Solomon Hwai and Solomon's wife, Theresa Muguti and Chimahwinya (losing candidate for MDC). Chimahwinya returned to Gweru on July 3 saying that the situation was tense and he could not stay there. Other victims have also reported that the situation in Chirimhanzu is still bad as retributive violence is intensifying.

Those returning to Mberengwa also reported that the bases are still operational and people are still being assaulted like what was happening before the election. Among those repatriated were the losing councilor identified as Zenzo, Mugeza Hove the losing MP, Foxen Hove, Livius Shumba, Josephine Mlambo, Justine Murefu, Nkosinathi Dumisa, Panganai Mavesa and Boniface Zhou.

Mashonaland East
It is alleged that four MDC activists were reportedly killed at Changwe farm, village 26 in Murewa South, on June 26. The four were killed in village 26 Changwe farm along settler road. One of the deceased was identified as Mr Kuzhande aged 76 years and the other three aged between 45 and 56 years are still to be identified. The war veterans and ZANU PF youths who are still camped at Macheke Grain Marketing Board (GMB) base camp are alleged to have ordered people not to bury the dead. ZPP is informed that the police are aware of the incident but to date no arrests have been made.

Mashonaland West
ZPP has received reports suggesting that illegal roadblocks that were common before the elections were still being mounted. Some ZANU PF supporters were going around telling people that bases would remain because the vote was not 100% as campaigned for by ZANU PF.

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