METHODOLOGY
This report is based on reports from ZPP long-term community based human rights monitors who
observe, monitor and record cases of human rights violations in the constituencies they reside. ZPP
deploys a total of 420 community-based primary peace monitors (two per each of the 210 electoral
constituencies of Zimbabwe). These community-based monitors reside in the constituencies they monitor.
They compile reports that are handed over to ZPP provincial coordinators who man the different ZPP
offices in the ten administrative provinces of Zimbabwe. Upon receipt and verifications of the reports
from the monitors, the provincial coordinators compile provincial monthly monitoring reports, which are
then consolidated at national office into the ZPP monthly monitoring reports published in retrospect.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The political environment throughout the country has remained relatively peaceful with a significant
reduction in incidents of politically motivated human violations recorded during the month. There
were 209 incidents witnessed in February down from the 286 cases recorded in January 2014.
The month of February was punctuated by the fierce internal fighting within the MDC-T over
leadership renewal calls that resulted in the party’s deputy treasurer general being attacked outside the
party’s headquarters of Harvest House by suspected party youths. The youths also roughed up
allegedly under Tsvangiras’ nose, party Secretary General Tendai Biti who had to run for his life.
Days later Biti’s house was petrol bombed. Others on the line were, Solomon Madzore party National
Youth Assembly Chairperson and his secretary general Promise Mkwananzi who had to take refuge at
the Harvest house. It is being reported that most MDC-T supporters at the meeting endorsed Morgan
Tsvangirai to continue leading the party, and are now re- aligning their structures at grass-roots level
removing all those supporting Elton Mangoma from the structures who have been labelled rebels.
A humanitarian disaster occurred in Chivi South and Masvingo South when the Tokwe Mukorsi dam
spilled affecting over eight thousand families downstream whose homes were submerged in floods.
About two thousand primary school children were affected as they could not attend classes.
Nyahombe School was closed while Gororo, Dare and Shongamiti primary schools became temporary
shelters to stranded families. Red Cross provided about a thousand tents which were not adequate and
there remains a continued health time bomb. Each large tent is shelter to an entire village and the little
relief food available is cooked in large communal pots for the entire village. So each tent represents a
village, causing serious danger of outbreak of diseases.
While the Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees freedom of Assembly and association under section
58 (1), (2) and further guarantees political rights of citizens under section 67 (1b to d), however, these
fundamental rights continue to be breached with impunity. In one such incident a citizen from
Musikavanhu residing at Rimbi growth point was reportedly summoned to a village kangaroo court
by headman Chitokonye – a Zanu PF activist - who accused victim of selling a beast to National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) party led by Professor Lovemore Madhuku who wanted the beast at
the party’s meeting at Rimbi. The victim was told to reverse the deal or risk being evicted.
On 25 February, Zanu PF activists led by the Member of Parliament for Chipinge South Enock
Porusingazi together with Zanu PF leaders Rusangawanye and Shumba reportedly went to Checheche
Primary school where they mobilized all the teachers at the school to a meeting. During the meeting
convened by the MP, the teachers were told to join Zanu PF or be forced out of employment. To
further their point, the teachers were told to form a Zanu PF branch at the school where every teacher
will get a post.
The state continued to target NGOs during the month with the latest victim being Martha Tholanah,
the Chairperson of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) who was arraigned before the courts on
24 February 2014 facing charges of running an “unregistered” organisation. Prosecutors claimed that
Tholanah unlawfully took part in the management of GALZ by gathering the organisation’s members
and continued to carry out activities while “engaging in gays and lesbians activities” in contravention
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