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
This report covers recorded incidents of civil and political rights violations from the ten provinces of
Zimbabwe for the month of June 2015.The month of June 2015 was filled with a number of
enthralling political developments most of which have an impact on the attainment of sustainable
peace.
The 10 June by-elections were held across 16 constituencies and all the seats were won by Zanu PF.
In the period leading up to the elections, the Zimbabwe Peace Project monitored and reported
numerous cases physical violence, threats and intimidation of voters, abuse of traditional leaders
and widespread vote buying using food and other forms of aid. The by-elections resulted in the
consolidation of the majority of Zanu PF in parliament (now at 76% of the National Assembly seats)
and the diminishing legislative presence of the opposition (only left with 21% of the seats). The
weakening of the opposition is unfortunate since a stable and strong opposition is a key prerequisite for horizontal accountability through legislative checks and balances on executive power.
In a move that has the potential to trigger pandemonium in urban areas, on the 2nd of June 2015
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and Commander of the Presidential Guard BrigadierGeneral Anselem Sanyatwe ordered vendors operating at undesignated sites in all urban areas to
vacate in a week or face unspecified action. On the same day the National Vendors Union Zimbabwe
(NAVUZ) vowed to defy the ultimatum arguing that they will not move until local authorities offer
them alternative vending sites. NAVUZ argued that Zimbabwe is not in a state of emergency and
inviting the army and the police to fight vendors was as good as declaring war on livelihoods. The
vendors in Harare resisted the initial attempts to move them to newly designated sites on the
outskirts of the Central Business District arguing that the location was not ideal for their business.
The vendors also argued that vending was their only source of livelihood due to the harsh economic
environment and they were going to resist movement unless properly located sites have been
identified and allocated to them. The situation remains tense and can degenerate into violence and
this report highlights the situation across various municipalities.
The purges in Zanu PF continued unabated as the party took stern measures to punish those accused
of working and/or supporting former Vice President Joice Mujuru. On 11 June 2015 Parliament
suspended three Zanu PF legislators from the House of Assembly after their party notified the
Speaker that the law makers had been recalled. The three were Ray Kaukonde (Marondera Central),
Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Mwenezi East) and David Butau (Mbire).On the same day, former Energy
minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Olivia Muchena were
booted out of the Senate. The five were part of the Zanu PF leaders expelled from the party on
allegations of being part of a “cabal” that was plotting to topple President Mugabe in order to
2