the months of August to October: 105 murders in mining areas, 221 cases of assaults at mines, 24 murders
in the community and 87 cases of assault in the community. These statistics indicate a serious problem that
needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency to preserve lives.
The continued economic decline has given rise to a myriad of violation of rights. Most tragic is that
children are bearing the brunt of these economic challenges. At Mbofana School in Midlands Province a
total of 6 pupils were married off in this term alone, a situation stemming largely from economic hardships
that their parents are facing. There are also many reports of children in that area dropping out of school and
moving to urban areas to do manual labour. In Nyanga South Ward 19, school children are reportedly
dropping out of school due to the worsening economic crisis affecting the country. There are reported cases
where members of certain churches are marrying off their daughters to elderly men in return for food to
feed their families. In some instances, children have resorted to join the scramble for gold and diamonds in
areas such as Penhalonga, Musanditeera, Sheba and Premea.
The Water Crisis is continuing with most urban inhabitants failing to access the precious liquid as water
cuts are severe while there are also limited alternative sources available. There are also a number of conflicts
at water points as evidenced by the case of Zanu PF youths who have politicised a borehole drilled in
Glenview South during the by –election campaigns in September 2019. The youths led by their ring leader
only identified as Kulombo have ensured that only residents with party membership cards get access to
water from the borehole located between 4th and 5th Crescent in Glenview 1. Kulombo and his colleagues
have consistently removed the pump handle to restrict residents who do not have party membership cards
from accessing water.
Furthermore, the water crisis has continued to pose a serious risk for women and girls as they are often
forced to transverse long distances at odd hours to fetch water. On 21 October in Masvingo Urban Ward
6, a 14 year old girl was reportedly raped when coming from a borehole at around 0300 hours as the water
crisis persists in the area. The unidentified man reportedly held a knife to her throat so that she does not
scream. The case was reported at Chesvingo Police base.
Despite the deteriorating economic situation ZPP has noted cases of intimidation whereby people are
victimised for stating that the ruling party is responsible for the shambolic state of the economy. On 17
October 2019 an MDC activist was harassed and intimidated by a soldier in Mudzi South at Nyamuyaruka
Business Centre Ward 10. Paddington Chikonyora a Zimbabwe National Army Officer heard the victim
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