Mashonaland Central
Bulawayo
In Mashonaland Central, human rights
violations have increased to 25 incidents, up
from 19 in August. The region is experiencing
severe water shortages due to drought,
leading to concerns of conflicts over this
essential resource. Alarmingly, students have
been chased away from school in several
incidents. There have been incidents of forced
contributions and discrimination where village
heads under Chief Bushu are coercing
households to contribute $1 each towards a
ceremony for rainmaking. Those who refuse
face summons to village and chief courts.
Three opposition members have suffered
political discrimination, denied access to food
assistance due to their activism and influence
in the area. Ruling party officials have also
been using hate speech to intimidate
opposition supporters, stating that "there is no
room for traitors in Chawarura" and that
President Mnangagwa's government won't
waste resources on "traitors." This rhetoric
injects fear into the community.
The province of Bulawayo saw a
decrease in violations, from 13 last
month to 5 this month. However, a
devastating incident in Pelandaba
West
highlighted
the
dire
consequences of the ongoing water
crisis. A tragic accident occurred
when a young girl, an Early Childhood
Development (ECD) student, fell into
an unprotected well in Pelandaba
West. Despite rescue efforts, her body
was only retrieved after nearly an
hour. This heartbreaking incident
underscores the lethal risks posed by
the proliferation of unprotected wells,
which have become ubiquitous due to
the water shortage. The incident
serves as a stark reminder of the
urgent need for authorities to address
the water crisis and ensure the safety
of Bulawayo's residents, particularly
vulnerable children.
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