INCITING RHETORIC
provinces continues, suggesting a form of punishment beyond
the use of overt violence. Opposition MDC-T has been accused
of undermining voices from Matebeleland in their party
and decision-making processes, as evidenced by party splits,
violence and use of executive powers to make controversial
appointments. The intra-Shona tensions are taking a more
pronounced state with the battle for the presidency of Zanu
PF. The Shona groups are diverse, including the Karanga,
Manyika, Zezuru, Korekore and Ndau. The leadership of Zanu
PF has been seen as predominantly Zezuru. The Karanga are
suggesting that “now it’s their time to rule”. During political
rallies, statements celebrating the invincibility of one ethnic
group over the other have been recorded.
Hate speech for purposes of monitoring and documenting
signs of potential violence and conflict is defined as speeches,
statements or any other utterances that intimidate threaten
violence (directly or indirectly), incite others to commit violence,
or threaten members of the opposition, civil society or any other
dissenting voices, for whatever reason. These statements breed
intolerance and violence, a sustained campaign of negative
publicity and denunciation of the opposing views and dissenting
voices, through the public and private media. These speeches
provide “moral” and legal justification for use of violence and
force by ruling party functionaries and law enforcement agents.
Ethnicity statements are used as part of justifying the ascendancy
of one group over the other based on historical agreements or
sense of superiority over another. In the MDC-T, the July
2016 appointment of two vice Presidents Nelson Chamisa and
Elias Mudzuri has been widely interpreted as part of ethnic
balancing, and an insult to Vice President Khupe, a Ndebele
and female. MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed
the statements.6
Senior ruling party officials, such as Vice President Mphoko
were quoted stating that the “fact that Mugabe is a Zezuru
does not mean that when he goes a Karanga must take over
in the succession matrix”, these statements were bolstered
by party leadership’s failure to stop the singing of songs
celebrating Zezuru “invincibility” at a political rally in
6 Tsvangirai is quoted “This hullabaloo about the appointment of two vice-presidents is
not an issue as far as I am concerned. I don’t look at tribal lenses when assigning party
cadres duties. Vice-president Khupe (Thokozani) was not only voted by people from
Matabeleland but all the provinces voted for her. (http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news34440-Tsvangirai+says+MDC-T+above+tribalism/news.aspx) Last accessed, 04 September 2017.
Chiweshe Mashonaland Central.7 Chiweshe has experienced
violence before including in 2008, 9 individuals were killed and
tortured8. Speaking at the meet the Youth Rally in Masvingo,
President Robert Mugabe openly rebuked those driving the
ethnic agenda. He stated that “they are seniors who want to
corrupt the youth who say we no longer want to be ruled by
Harare... they are tribalists and they claim that their tribe is
superior. The liberation struggle was won by non-tribal means.
Every tribe contributed to our victory.”9
Communities are being threatened with worse violence if they
decide to vote for the opposition; on February 17, Murehwa
North, ward 16 Zanu PF Chairperson, one Peter Chitaukire,
was reportedly quoted threatening to unleash violence, stating
that 2008 was ‘little and the real darkness shall come’ in 2018
if orders are not followed.10 Hate speech targeting ruling
party members and opposition supporters has increased with
the advent of instigated demonstrations. If not contained,
continuous hate speech and inciting language might result
in violence especially around the 2018 elections. Examples of
some of the reported incidents are below:
• April 3, Zanu PF Mashonaland Central province
demonstrated against Saviour Kasukuwere, the party’s
national political commissar. Zanu PF members among
them Advocate Martin Dinha the Provincial Affairs
Minister openly derided Kasukuwere saying a big body
does not translate into being a good boxer”.
• April 18, in Masvingo Chivi Growth Point during
Independence Day celebrations, traditional leader, Chief
Madyangove threatened opposition supporters saying that
in the upcoming 2018 polls they will be in danger.11
• May 14, Minister of Youth Indigenization and Economic
empowerment, Patrick Zhuwao, was quoted saying “Zanu
PF is full of idiots” in direct attack to individuals associated
or sympathetic to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa
who were believed to be sponsoring demonstrations against
Kasukuwere.12
The Herald, VP Mphoko scoffs at Karanga presidency, http://www.herald.co.zw/vpmphoko-scoffs-at-karanga-presidency/, The Independent https://www.theindependent.
co.zw/2016/02/19/ethnicity-zanu-pfs-messy-predicament/ (last accessed 24 August
2017)
8
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Run-up-June-27-election-2008.pdf
9
http://www.herald.co.zw/live-masvingo-presidential-youth-interface-rally/ (last access
31 August 2017)
10
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ZPP-February-MMR.
pdf (last accessed 29 August 2017)
11
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ZPP-APRIL-MMR.
pdf
12
https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/05/14/zanu-pf-full-idiots-zhuwao/ (last accessed
5 September 2017)
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