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Political violence report - June 2008
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
November 04, 2008

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Overview

As Zimbabwe geared up for the historic Presidential Run - Off on 27 June 2008, ZANU PF embarked on a deplorable pre-election violence campaign. The report chronicles high levels of political intolerance by all political parties but more seriously violations of human rights by the ZANU PF party. The gendered dimensions of politically motivated and state sponsored violence also become starkly clear from the reportage in this document. The report reveals gross violations of women's and children's rights at times on mere allegations of their being supporters of the opposition or the fact that their male partners or children were involved in opposition politics. Schools in most rural areas were closed as alleged ZANU PF supporters marauded through the schools displacing and frequently assaulting teachers and other education officials. Virtually all the fundamental freedoms protected by Zimbabwe's Constitution and other regional and international human rights treaties were infringed during the run up to the June 27 Run Off election. The report notes high levels of cases of torture, abductions, displacement, rape, and violations of the right to associate; activities which all seemed highly organized and orchestrated with great precision by the perpetrators.

The June report shows that there were more incidents of politically motivated and state orchestrated violence in the urban areas as compared to previous reports where such violence was perpetrated mainly in the rural areas. ZANU PF youths and members of the National Youth Service commonly known as "Green Bombers" turned on residents, particularly in the high density suburbs of Chitungwiza South, Mbare and Epworth as the party completed a full circle of a nationwide terror campaign. In a clear sign of a nation under siege, public transport operators in most urban areas were forced to operate whilst putting on ZANU PF regalia for them to retain their operating licences. The report documents 281 cases of assault and 277 cases of political intimidation and victimization. This marked a decrease from the month of May in which there were 466 cases of political intimidation and victimization.

Furthermore, the report contains information and allegations of collusion by state security agents such as the police, army and central intelligence officers with alleged ZANU PF supporters in setting up terror bases in parts of rural and urban areas. In some cases the youths reported directly to ZANU PF leaders who were alleged to be giving commands to attack. In other instances, victims were force - marched to the alleged ZANU PF leaders' homes where the attacks would be carried out.

MDC supporters were abducted from their homes, forced to attend ZANU PF meetings and to name fellow MDC supporters who were accused of 'betraying the ZANU PF struggle'. The victims were forced to surrender their MDC cards and t-shirts. The terror strategy also targeted women as the report shows six alleged rape cases in Harare Central, Bindura South, Guruve South and Makoni South. In addition, women were taken to the youths' bases and forced to cook and clean for the "comrades". Some were assaulted because their husbands and or male children were MDC activists while others were forced to live in the bush for fear of victimization. With most husbands forced to flee their homes, children were left with no parents to take care of them. In further violation of children's rights and in particular, the right to education, there were 10 cases of school closures in Matabeleland South, reported to the Forum.

A few days before the 27 June Run Off election, ZANU PF youths went on a rampage ambushing people on the streets and forcing them to recite ZANU PF slogans. Failure to recite these slogans would lead to serious beatings, as it would be a clear sign that one was not attending the ZANU PF political orientation meetings. The report also chronicles cases whereby alleged ZANU PF supporters would waylay people and confiscate their National Identity Cards in a bid to prevent them from voting. Other cunning techniques such as requesting the ID cards of suspected MDC supporters or dissenters for food distribution purposes and then confiscating them were also used during this period.

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