Key Findings and Mitigation
Measures
Court observations
The judiciary, which is meant to be
completely independent and impartial,
has been used to stifle dissent
through arbitrary arrests, protracted
incarceration, and the denial of bail of
political and human rights activists.
The trial of four University of
Zimbabwe students began on June 1;
they were denied bail and remanded
in custody until June 21. They were
accused
of
creating
and
communicating protest artwork on
government buildings to express their
displeasure with the alleged illegal
imprisonment of prominent Member of
Parliament, Job Sikhala. Since his
arrest in June 2022, Job Sikhala has
been denied bail fifteen times. He was
charged with instigating violence
following the murder of CCC activist
Moreblesing Ali. As political parties
prepare for the harmonised elections
on August 23, 2023, this has been
seen as an attempt to keep activists
from
election
preparations
and
campaigns. The opposition party
Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob
Ngarivhume,
was
arrested
for
organising and leading the 31 July
2020 anti-corruption demonstrations.
On April 28, he was given a 48-month
prison
term
with
a
12-month
suspension. In June, high court judge
Justice Pisirayi Kwenda reserved his
judgement in jailed Ngarivhume’s
challenge against both conviction and
sentence.
Recommendations
The
Zimbabwe
Human
Rights
Commission is urged to engage with
the Judicial Service Commission and
jointly investigate all reports of human
rights
violations
and
all
cases
involving journalists and human rights
defenders.
Food Aid and Politics
Politicisation of food hand-outs has
characterised ruling Zanu PF party politics
for decades since the country attained its
independence in 1980. The politics of
food has been used as a gimmick by the
old and new dispensations to lure people
to vote for Zanu PF during elections.
People
especially
those
in
rural
communities who face food insecurity
have been mobilised to vote for the ruling
party in return for food handouts. The
introduction
of
the
Pfumvudza
presidential aid scheme meant to boost
Zimbabwe’s food security has been
politicised by Zanu PF politicians and
traditional leaders to benefit ruling party
supporters only. In most instances
opposition supporters have been turned
away from distributions for not attending
Zanu PF meetings and for defying the call
to join ruling party structures. Often,
opposition party supporters have been
told to go and benefit from their leaders.
In Masvingo on 10 June, there was chaos
when Zanu PF supporters looted a
truckload of mealie meal at a rally
addressed by President Mnangagwa at
Mucheke stadium. It is alleged that angry
ruling party supporters looted one truck
of mealie meal after information came out
that the mealie meal was not going to be
distributed as had been promised during
the rally. Masvingo Minister of State for
Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra
Chadzamira had earlier promised the
crowd that the President had brought
mealie meal and everyone was going to
get an allocation.
14