The vendors were supposed to be given due notice and have
The credibility of the 2018 elections is in doubt as Zanu PF
options in terms of where they could move in a dignified
meetings and rallies continue to go ahead while meetings
manner that would not evoke anger and resentment as
organized by opposition parties are disrupted by police.
people desperately need money for their livelihoods in this
Aspiring
failing economy.
constituency Fadzai Mahere was arrested after organizing a
independent
candidate
for
Mt
Pleasant
soccer tournament in the constituency.
The ZPP was dismayed by chiefs openly declaring their
allegiance to Zanu PF at a ceremony addressed by President
The Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General
Robert Mugabe in Bulawayo. The public pronouncements
Constantine Chiwenga made racist remarks saying whites
by the chiefs are not in tandem with the Constitution which
and sellouts would never rule Zimbabwe. These utterances
states in Section 281 that traditional leaders must not be
undermine the rights of other citizens to participate in
members of any political party or in any way participate in
politics and have the potential to escalate violence that is
partisan politics, act in a partisan manner or further the
being perpetrated by security forces on citizens and
interests of any political party . A cabinet minister Professor
opposition political parties. Sell-outs is a term that has been
Jonathan Moyo appeared to endorse this disregard of the
previously used to refer to opposition figures and civil
constitution when he tweeted that it was impossible for
society practitioners as well as members of the media.
traditional
chiefs
to
be
impartial.
Despite
ZEC
acknowledging that some traditional leaders were engaging
in corrupt activities and using BVR to settle personal scores;
no action has been taken against the said traditional leaders.
ZPP has also written to ZEC demanding a pronouncement
against misinformation which is instilling fear in would be
voters. ZEC’s response to this has been lukewarm stating
that they have engaged the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Commission and the police to investigate the alleged cases.
DATA GATHERING
Information contained herein is based on reports from ZPP
long-term community based human rights monitors, who
observe 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). The
monitors compile reports that are handed over to ZPP
6