THE ZIMBABWE
PEACE PROJECT
More than ever before, Zimbabweans are
afraid of the police, army and the ruling
party.
The state security agents, who have
maintained a presence in the streets and
villages, under the guise of enforcing Covid19 regulations, have continued to suppress
basic rights.
A sense of fear has continued to linger in
the communities and throughout the
month, ZPP recorded cases of harassment
and intimidation and assaults perpetrated
by state security agents and ruling party
activists.
In one incident in Glendale, Mazowe South,
Zanu PF youths led by one Quash Banda
torched property belonging to an MDC
Alliance activist.
Banda led a group of ruling party youths
and burned the victim’s house and banana
garden, and property, including clothes,
kitchen utensils and a bed, worth US$1000,
was lost.
Reports indicate that this is not the first
time the ruling party youths in the area
have attacked opposition political activists.
“They do not get arrested because even the
police are afraid of them because of the
political influence they have” said a witness.
The systematic nature of the impunity is
evidenced by the fact that these incidents
happen across the country.
In light of these, ZPP recommends that government
should ensure that state security agents conduct
themselves in a professional manner. The Constitution
guarantees the right to life, and even where people are
suspected to committing a crime, the Constitution
clearly provides the procedures of arrest, detention and
trial.
In addition, Zanu PF leaders should instill a culture of
political tolerance within their cadres. It is of great
concern though that, many times, the leaders are the
ones who incite their supporters to be intolerant of
opposition politics. They must be reminded that as a
multi-party democracy, Zimbabwe allows opposition
politics and Zanu PF as an institution should be
subservient to the Constitution, which provides for
freedom of association.
…even where
people are
suspected to
committing a crime,
the Constitution
clearly provides the
procedures of arrest,
detention and
trial….