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Warning of an expanding wave of political intolerance
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
August 12, 2011

In a development that seems to warn of an expanding wave of political intolerance; the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) produced a report that uncover harassment and intimidation of the perceived MDC sympathisers in Midlands and Matebeleland provinces over the past two months. The preceding May report had indicated that violence was largely concentrated in the Mashonaland Central areas such as Mt Darwin, Rushinga and Dotito where the daily ZANU PF militia intimidating morning drills were reported to have put the communities in quandary.

Menawhile Rosemary Maya and son Jacob Maya of Maya village, ward 24, Mutasa North constituency near Katiyo Tea Estates revealed some political violence which is taking. The issue came to light when the two sought assistance from our regional coordinator Rev. Maengamhuru.

The file of the two in our possession also has complaints of the seizure of their farming fields by ZANU PF militia and the war veterans the reason being to evict them from an area the culprits regards as a ZANU PF strongholds. The fields that were taken include those of Jacob Maya, Benson Boterere, Gilbert Mutsuwa, Elizabeth Nyagumbo, Patrick Nyamhaka, Fungai Nyamhaka and Joseph Mupfawa.

A police report was made but nothing cam out of it except the police's directive that the victims first engage their headman, Chikomba. The headman is also said to have done nothing to assist the disadvantaged and apparently, he is too afraid to preside over the issues that have political dimensions.

Other reports include that the MDC-T has lodged a police report over an incident on Tuesday involving Joshua Sacco, a white ZANU PF official who defaced the party's logos and slogans at its offices at the village in Chimanimani in Manicaland.

Sacco is said to have led a group that sprayed the office block with white paint.

The MDC-T spokesman for the province Pishai Muchauraya, said the incident was witnessed by dozens of locals but by Wednesday afternoon police had made any arrests.

Concerns have also been raised about a ZANU-PF torture camp and base that has over 200 fully fledged militias with another 75 recruits currently undergoing military training at Sherenje secondary school in Headlands, a ZANU PF constituency under Didymus Mutasa, the Presidential Affairs Minister. The militias have taken over a classroom block and school grounds for the physical training.

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