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Summary on politically-motivated human rights and food-related violations - June 2011
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)
July 28, 2011

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Summary

The political situation has remained very tense across the country with political parties reportedly preparing for the holding of elections as well as the constitutional referendum. Prospective candidates to represent the different political parties come election time are now in full gear campaigning and this has resulted in people's rights being violated.

There was a slight increase in cases of politically motivated human rights violations to 1 014 as compared to the 994 witnessed during the month of May.

Over the past four years, the highest number of violations during the month of June were witnessed in 2008 in the lead up to the inconclusive Presidential election run-off when 3 758 cases were recorded.

The violations eased significantly in 2009 with 1 558 cases being recorded following the consummation of the inclusive government in February that year while in 2010 there were 913 cases.

Cases of politically motivated violence remain high and the atmosphere has remained volatile in the Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, and Masvingo provinces.

Zanu PF supporters have been accused of leading political violence in the many incidents that were recorded during the month. Political violence cases were recorded to be continuing in Manicaland Province despite interventions by the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) in rural Chimanimani and Headlands.

There were also reports of inter and intra party fighting from across the country within Zanu PF and the MDC-T. The infighting within Zanu PF has been ongoing as new candidates are facing stiff resistance from the party's heavy weights in the fight to represent the party during the next general elections.

War veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda reportedly fell out of favour with the Zanu PF leadership in Masvingo Province and allegedly moved to set up base in Tsholotsho Matabeleland North Province. During the month under review there were no incidents recorded directly linked to Sibanda in Matabeleland North.

State security agents and in particular members of the police force and soldiers were accused of partisan application of the law during the course of their work. This was evidenced in the manner in which police officers handled the murder case of police Inspector Petros Mutedzi in Harare.

Politicisation of food and other forms of aid was also recorded during the month under review with high indications that the folly is going to increase in the next months as more and more Zimbabweans will rely on food aid in the coming months due to poor harvests in some parts of the country. Humanitarian organisations are now carrying out surveys and registering possible beneficiaries.

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