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ZPP Monthly Monitor – September 2013
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)
October 24, 2013

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Executive summary

The month of September 2013 witnessed a significant decline in the number of politically motivated human rights violations as compared to the August figures. There were 378 incidents recorded down form the 525 incidents witnessed during the month August. During the month under review cases of physical political violence have remained generally low. This could be attributed to the fading election fever, which had gripped the nation for a couple of months.

Despite a significant decline in incidents of political violence during the month of August, cases of land/property invasions, displacements and malicious damage to property especially arson have been on the increase in Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces. The major sources of conflict during the period under review revolved around post-election issues which ranged from harassment, arson, land invasions and displacements mainly perpetrated by Zanu-PF supporters.

Inter and intra party issues also came to a head during the month especially within the MDC-T where some councillors from the MDC-T reportedly “sold out” to Zanu-PF by entering into a deal with Zanu-PF to vote its candidate as the deputy mayor much to the chagrin of MDC-T leadership. The mayoral elections were alleged sold in Redcliff, Mutare, Victoria Fall and Gweru towns.

Zanu-PF continues to be the main perpetrator of human rights violations as its supporters are not allowing other parties political space. The chaotic land redistribution exercise is another major source of conflict as people are being forced off their plots for having voted for other political parties other than Zanu-PF. The evictions were mainly witnessed in Mhangura and Chegutu in Mashonaland West and in Muzarabani, Shamva and Mazowe in Mashonaland Central.

Evictions in the newly resettled farms have become the order of the day now in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland affecting also Zanu-PF supporters. It is alleged in other circles that the government is trying to create some form of order by evicting those without offer letters. The month also witnessed a number of celebration parties in different parts of the country as Zanu-PF celebrated its victory. At some celebration parties some people mostly MDC-T supporters were threatened with eviction. The atmosphere of uncertainty still remains as most people have decided to wait and see.

Another worrying trend has emerged across the country where desperate home seekers are being evicted from their homes on allegations of setting up illegal settlements. People from major cities who had bought land from the war veterans or kraal heads without the authority of the Ministry of Lands risk losing their houses to demolitions by the local authorities in Harare and Chitungwiza. This exercise is on-going. Unaffected by the eviction threats, Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth chairperson Jim Kunaka is alleged to have moved in to sell residential stands to Zanu-PF card carrying members in Glen Norah for $12-00 and three days later police came and destroyed the illegal structures and evicted the people. People who bought the stands are now looking for Kunaka as they want their money back.

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