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Intimidation resurges in Manicaland
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
May 18, 2010

Soldiers in the Makoni South constituency are forcing villagers to attend ZANU PF meeting at Rukweza business center, scheduled for the 6th of June. The uniformed soldiers are moving around threatening villagers to attend, demanding, that each headman brings his people to the meeting without fail.

MDC T MP for the area Pishai Muchauraya highlighted that, although he has not come across the soldiers he has heard from reliable sources that the soldiers were indeed making the threats. He added that he was not yet certain of what the meeting is about, but assumed it will be addressed by ZANU PF officials. Muchauraya also pointed out that the soldiers, moving around in army trucks , have been seen in the company of Happy Nyakuedzwa, an active ZANU PF functionary in the Makoni district.

It has been reported that these violent acts were also demonstrated by war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda when he ordered villagers, traditional leaders and government workers to attend a campaign meetings in parts of Manicaland, ahead of the constitutional outreach programme. Sibanda's meetings heightened fears that war vets, who have traditionally led violent campaigns of behalf of ZANU PF, are mobilizing once again. Some of the people who have attended Sibanda's meetings said that they were told to Campaign for the Kariba Draft constitution and that it was a matter of 'life or dearth' for Mugabe's party.

Human rights groups have, for a long time been reporting cases of increased politically organized violence against ant-ZANU PF supporters, especially MDC supporters, despite the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

ZimRights will continue to speak against the continued culture of using violence and force by political parties in order to gain people's support. Such acts defy all efforts to create a peaceful and democratic Zimbabwe. There is need for the politicians to respect people's fundamental rights as well as respect for the rule of law.

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