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Political Violence Report - October 2008
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
December 10, 2008

http://www.hrforumzim.com/frames/inside_frame_monthly.htm

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Overview

The month of October saw a wave of dissent as civic organisations such as the Zimbabwe National Students' Union (ZINASU), Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA), Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) and the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe, took to the streets to protest against the deteriorating political and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe as well as the seemingly unending political impasse between the main political parties. As has become synonymous with demonstrations in Zimbabwe, the protestors were met with unrelenting force by the ZRP. This report chronicles how the different groups were prevented from freely exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

More than 500 members of ZINASU from across the country staged a demonstration at the Parliament of Zimbabwe on 14 October 2008 demanding immediate action on the deteriorating education sector. The students marched from the offices of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) towards the Parliament to hand over their petition to the legislators who had resumed sitting on that day. The students were however met by armed police officers who tried to prevent them from delivering the petition. In the ensuing melee five students were arrested while the police assaulted several others.

Two days after the student protest, hundreds of members of WOZA and MOZA took to the streets of Bulawayo in a peaceful demonstration to call for immediate access to food aid for Zimbabweans to stave off hunger and possible starvation. Nine members, including the two WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, were arrested. The two leaders were detained for three weeks at Mlondolozi Female Prison while the other seven members were released without charge on the day of arrest.

On 27 October 2008 anti-riot police in Harare also descended on hundreds of women who were peacefully protesting under the auspices of the Women's Coalition, over the delayed conclusion of the power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's major political parties. At least 42 women were arrested and over 100 were beaten in the city as they were walking to the Rainbow Towers in Harare, which was the venue of the talks. The talks had been rescheduled to 27 October after a failed attempt to end the political impasse in Swaziland a week earlier. The arrested women were released later that evening after paying admission of guilt fines.

On the following day, another organization, Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) also took to the streets of Harare to express the same sentiments. Seven protestors were reportedly arrested and 23 others injured after riot police violently dispersed the protestors.

Despite repeated promises by the parties to the Global Political Agreement to respect and honour their obligations for a society free of violence, fear and intimidation, repression and the lack of tolerance for civic activity remains a major stumbling block to attaining political stability in Zimbabwe. As was the case prior to the 27 June 2008 Presidential Election Run-off, disruptions of MDC rallies and meetings continue, with reports of politicization of food aid also being received.

This report documents the reported disruption of an MDC meeting in Buhera South Constituency by war veterans and members of the army as well as the barring of MDC officials from distributing food aid by war veterans. Further, the report documents 123 violations of the freedom of assembly, association and expression, a sharp increase from the figures recorded in August and September 2008 respectively. It should be noted however, that this figure is undoubtedly lower than the actual number of violations as some cases were not reported to the Forum, its members, or partners. Despite the power-sharing Agreement signed by ZANU PF and the two MDC formations on 15 September 2008 where the parties agreed to "promote practices of tolerance, respect, non-violence and dialogue as a means of resolving political differences", there were 135 reports of political discrimination, intimidation and victimization in the month compared with 96 in September.

The Human Rights Forum is concerned at the heavy handedness in which state security agents, especially members of the ZRP, have dispersed peaceful demonstrations. The Human Rights Forum also remains concerned about the continued involvement of members of the ZNA in civilian activities such as food distribution and the dispersion of MDC members attending rallies. The Human Rights Forum urges the authorities to stop criminalizing peaceful protest activities and implores the police to desist from the gratuitous use of force against peaceful demonstrators. Some of the violations being committed by the security forces such as torture are considered international crimes, which are not pardonable under any circumstances and carry individual liability and compliance with "orders from above" is no defence. Furthermore, the Human Rights Forum reiterates the point that the state should immediately halt the ongoing violence and attacks on protestors that are being perpetrated under the guise of maintaining public order. No amount of beatings or intimidation will distract from the issues that Zimbabweans are protesting. Rather, the authorities should channel resources being used in these violent and meaningless "public order maintenance" activities to address the humanitarian and health crisis gripping the country at an alarmingly increasing rate.

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