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Summary on politically-motivated human rights and food-related violations - November 2009
Zimbabwe Peace Project
December 23, 2009

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The period under review witnessed a reduction in incidences of politically motivated human rights abuses. A total of 890 cases were recorded in November 2009, as compared to 1058 recorded in October. Harassments and assaults categories recorded the highest of the acts accounting for 718, with 531 cases being harassments while 187 were assaults. The most volatile areas were Manicaland [149], Masvingo [157], Midlands [131] and Mashonaland East [130] in terms of these political violations.

Since January 2009, a cumulative violations toll of 13 739 cases has been recorded. The acts spread has been profoundly inclining towards the harassment, assault, discrimination and displacement categories. See table below for details.

A total of 1098 people were recorded as victims, the bulk 773 [69%] being members of the MDC-T while 202 [18%] were ZANU PF, 115 [10%] Unknowns, 6 MDC [1%] and 2 State. Analyzing trends in terms of gender spread reveal that there were more male victims than female victims as they constitute 76% of the total victims recorded as compared to 24% female. The majority of male and female victims belonged to the MDC-T. Reports show that most of these male victims like in previous reports, are victimized for their activism especially their involvement in political issues such as attending political party meetings, wearing party regalia. This victim spread should be viewed with utmost concern as within this pool are vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, the sick and the disabled.

A figure of 1326 perpetrators, the majority of which were members of ZANU PF was recorded in the month of Novembers. In fact, of the 1326 perpetrators recorded in the period under review, 1042 were ZANU PF, 198 MDC T, 5 MDC, 45 State and 36 Unknowns. Like in the analysis of victims, male perpetrators also constitute the bulk of the recorded perpetrators, numbering 1183 [90%] while 134 [10%] were female. This trend shows that in most politically motivated violence males are largely involved in both perpetrator and victim roles. The gender spread trend also remains consistent when analyzed in terms of party affiliation.

Although the November 2009, statistical trends have decreased, they are to be read within the broader picture of the unfolding macro level setting within the Inclusive Government which throughout the period under review are undergoing tremendous wearisome times as rifts between the ZANU PF and MDC-T over outstanding issues seem to be widening. Hopes are high that the SADC mediation talks will yield fruit as the levels of uncertainty are continuously heightening as witnessed by the kind of politically motivated violations being witnessed in the country. Analysis of circumstances have revealed that most of these politically motivated violations were committed in communities for trivial reasons such as comments on rifts within the inclusive government, the Kariba Draft and views expressed about the slow constitutional making process and factionalism in political parties such as the ZANU PF over the nominations of the members of presidium. All these reasons for people to quickly resort to violence are an indication of the tensions and uncertainty levels within society.

Cases in which members of the public were assaulted simply because they were reported to be associating with their relatives or friends who are members of other political parties continue to filter even in the face of the Global Political Agreement in which political parties dedicated to themselves to "putting an end to the polarization, divisions, conflict and intolerance that has characterized Zimbabwean politics and society in recent times". This declaration seems to continue to be ignored in most provinces and rural areas. The GPA is still viewed as a "Harare" document not applicable to "non Hararians." This view is mainly common within ZANU PF sectors and is echoed in almost all provinces like Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East.

Generally, the spread of violence at a provincial level was lower than the October figures with Manicaland recording the highest with 171[19% ], followed by Masvingo with 157 [18%] and Harare 143 [16%]. Manicaland remains potentially high in records of politically motivated violations although there is a slight decrease in the same compared to the 215 reported in October. Masvingo however, recorded a 6% increase from the 121 with Midlands showing a decrease of 3% from the 192 acts recorded in October. The graph below gives a representation of violence spread throughout Zimbabwe.

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