|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
Inclusive government - Index of articles
Summary
on politically motivated human rights and food related violations
March 2010
Zimbabwe
Peace Project
May 13, 2010
Download
this document
- Acrobat
PDF version (925KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader
on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking
here.
Generally, the
month of March realised an 8% decrease in cases of human rights
violations with a toll of 908 from 979 recorded in February 2010.
Harassment and intimidation cases continue to top the violations
chart with 589 reported cases although there, has been a 7% decrease
of the same in the month of March from the February toll of 628.
Meanwhile, assaults [161] and discriminations [61] consistently
maintain their second and third positions respectively in reported
cases of human rights abuses in the country.
Apart from the
Global
Political Agreement [GPA] talks still lying on the table, after
missing several deadlines to conclude them, the month of March unlike
February was relatively calm with a few activities taking place
on the political pane. Deadlocks on power sharing and sanctions
issues remain eminent and continue to mystify the way forward of
the inclusive government. The talks appear to be mired in confusion
with mixed feelings as to whether the agreement will prevail or
not. While on one hand, the principal negotiator, South African
President Jacob Zuma is said to have announced that the protagonists
in the power-sharing pact had agreed on a "package of measures"
to be implemented under the GPA to be finalised on 31 March 2010;
on the other, the GPA principals seem to be singing another tune,
saying no agreement was made on any package. President Robert Mugabe's
announcement for possible elections in 2011, compounded with speculations
that the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee [COPAC] consultations
were to commence at the end of April, or early May 2010 has given
rise to political tensions in the different provinces as political
parties jostle to control the events and views on the constitution.
The month under
review also saw the operating environment for civic society organisations
being threatened by state security. There has been a resurgence
and escalation in victimization and harassment of human rights defenders
following the 2008
abduction of human rights defenders including Jestina Mukoko,
Brodreck Takawira & Pascal Gonzo. The arbitrary
arrest and subsequent release of Okay Machisa of
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association [ZIMRIGHTS] for human rights
work was reported during the month of March. This followed the interrogation
of Getrude Hambira of the General
Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe [GAPWUZ]
another human rights defender who is currently in hiding for fear
of her life following a police raid at the union's offices
in Harare in February 2010.
In the month
under review, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Midlands, Masvingo Harare
and Mashonaland Central consistently ranked high as volatile zones
for politically motivated abuses with Manicaland topping the list.
A close look at the trends of violence for these provinces tends
to register high figures of harassments and assaults. Of the top
six provinces, only three [Midlands, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central]
recorded an upsurge in cases of human rights abuses for the month
of March. Manicaland and Mashonaland East showed a decline in number
of cases recorded while Harare remained static. The decline is mainly
attributed to the slow activities of Constitution making consultations.
Download
full report
Visit the ZPP
fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
