JULY 2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ABOUT ZPP
The organisation was founded in 2000 by church-based
and human rights organisations. The current members of
ZPP are Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ),
Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Catholic
Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ),
Counselling Services Unit (CSU), Habakkuk Trust,
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), Civic
Education Network Trust (CIVNET), Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights (ZLHR) and Women’s Coalition of
Zimbabwe (WCoZ).
There has been nearly 50% increase in the number of
human rights violations from 150 in June to 223 in July,
as reported by Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP). This is
owing to a wide array of human rights violations ranging
from the right to life, political rights, right to personal
security, freedom of association, freedom from arbitrary
eviction, property rights and the right to food among
others. Cases of theft and looting reached their highest in
April when 26 cases were recorded. The numbers
dropped to 18 in May, 10 in June and this month they
rose notably to 23.
ZPP was established with the objective of monitoring,
documenting and building peace and promoting the
peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts. The peace
project seeks to foster dialogue and political tolerance
through non-partisan peace monitoring activities, mainly
through monitors who document the violations of rights in
the provinces.
The violations reported in July stand out in that it is
reported 10 artisanal miners lost their lives in clashes
with security agents and security guards. In Mutare West
and Chiadzwa conflict around the extraction of
diamonds and gold has been brewing for a long time and
continues to take a toll on human life. High
unemployment has resulted in conflicts worsening as
more people resort to artisanal mining as a means of
making a living.
The monitors, who at full complement stand at 420,
constitute the core pool of volunteers, supported by three
Regional Coordinators.
The Regional Coordinators
relate with the national office headed by the National
Director and programme officers in various units.
sharp hike of cases of intimidation and harassment from
85 in June to 141 in July.
ZanuPF persists as the party with the highest number of
perpetrators of violence. In June ZanuPF was
responsible for 72.5 % of violations and the percentage
reduced to 61.1 in July Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) is second and responsible for 24.2% of violations
compared to 18.5% in June. The total number of victims
reduced from 1392 (597 females and 795 males) to 1184
(438 females, 708 males and 38 unknown). However, it
is the adverse with perpetrators as the numbers
increased. There were 342 perpetrators in June and the
number has inclined upwards to 435 in July.
This month ZPP received reports that government
employees and business people were forced to contribute
money from 50 cents upwards. In a circular that ZPP is
in possession of, information was disseminated to
different government stakeholders. On 21 July, Guruve
District Schools Inspector, Phineas Dambudzo,
convened a meeting with 86 school heads and instructed
them to contribute money towards Heroes Day
commemorations. See Annexure 1 for the circular sent
to teachers.
The period under review was dominated by violations
that rooted partly from the presidential youth interface
rallies
and
preparations
for
Heroes
Day
commemorations. Heroes Day is one of the events that
has been highly politicised with ZanuPF supporters
taking responsibility of mobilising people and resources
for the day. Heroes Day is commemorated in August
annually and in weeks leading ZanuPF party members
and lower level office bearers have been known to
coerce citizens to pool resources in their different
localities. Presidential youth interface rallies and
preparations for Heroes Day commemorations led to a
Fundraising is an ongoing exercise for presidential youth
interface rallies. Citizens who have been coerced to
contribute $1 in Chakari and Sanyati have been told that
the money is meant for transporting people to and from
the presidential youth interface rally slated for Chinhoyi.
In previous rallies, for instance in Marondera and
Lupane, those that went against their will have reported
that no food was served; they were deserted and left to
find their own way back home after the rally.
Numerous human rights violations have been propelled
by presidential youth interface rallies. Students have
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