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 despite a rise in
number of politically motivated human violations recorded during the month. There were 286
incidents witnessed in January up from the 213 recorded in December 2013.
The year began on a positive note with the Masvingo Minister for Provincial Affairs Kudakwashe
Bhasikiti lifting the ban on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the province. The
decision came almost a year after former provincial governor Titus Maluleke ordered 29 NGOs to
stop operating. Most of the affected NGOs were providing food to desperate families. He had accused
them of engaging in political activity. But, the minister responsible for provincial affairs, Bhasikiti
announced the cancellation of the ban, arguing that the government cannot feed all the starving people
in the province on its own.
The decision to lift the ban is however limited as the minister ordered all NGOs operating in the
province to sign MOUs as well as share annual work-plans with his office before they can start work
in the province. This directive has deeply divided NGOs in the province as those in the humanitarian
and health clusters are already signing MOUs with ease. Those in the governance and democracy
sector are still consulting to establish what this entails and also just to examine which laws in
particular authorise provincial authorities to demand such documentation. The demand for MOUs has
also been witnessed in Manicaland and Matabelaland South provinces.
As the fight for the respect of social rights gathered momentum in January, the police arrested and
detained civic leaders Jacob Rukweza, Tinashe Kazuru of the Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest),
Simbarashe Moyo of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), George Makoni and Janet
Kanavete from civil society groups, the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe and
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association respectively for two nights after charging them for
contravening some provisions of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). This came after they
attended a public meeting organised for residents at Unit L Community Hall in Seke South
constituency on Tuesday 28 January 2014. The police charged that the civic leaders had organised a
gathering without notifying the police in contravention of POSA. But the National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute the civic leaders on Thursday 30 January 2014. The NPA
conceded that none of the civic leaders who had been arrested was the Convener of the
meeting but they were all participants at the gathering.
Internal fighting within the MDC-T became more pronounced during the month after the party’s
deputy treasurer suggested that Morgan Tsvandirai should step down. Mangoma joined other top
party leaders like party national treasurer Roy Bennett and standing committee members Ian Kay,
Eddie Cross and Elias Mudzuri, who have called on Tsvangirai to step down after losing three
consecutive elections to President Robert Mugabe.
Mangoma, who was Minister of Energy in the inclusive government, wrote a four-page letter urging
Tsvangirai to resign and allow fresh blood to take over ahead of the 2018 elections. Mangoma’s letter
torched a storm of controversy with some party officials declaring their allegiance to Tsvangirai while
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