association as a number of meetings were disrupted notably
and intimidated a ZPP team which was verifying the reports
aspiring Mount Pleasant independent candidate Fadzai
of violence.
Mahere’s Shanduko soccer tournament in Harare.
The failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to
sufficiently educate prospective voters and the failure by the
BVR curse
Zimbabwe Republic Police to set up a special investigations
Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) may have cavities. This
committee to investigate cases of electoral violence linked
is the information that is going round to prospective voters.
with BVR is regrettable. While the police are obliged to
Many people are shying away from voting due to
establish such a committee when elections are called, it is
intimidation and false information. The main perpetrators
clear that the introduction of BVR has created an adversarial
have been identified as Zanu PF activists and traditional
environment which has been a source of violence. If this is
leaders. They are deliberately spreading false information
not addressed many people may elect not to register to vote.
that the finger prints and pictures being captured will be
A voters’ roll based on misinformation, intimidation and
used to see whom one would have voted for come 2018
harassment will also produce a contested election that can
elections. Tactics of intimidation also include the recording
lead to further violence.
of serial numbers of the registered. This was common in
Mount Darwin, Budiriro and Epworth to name just a few
The demand that registered voters surrender their voter
places. Traditional leaders on the other hand who are
registration slips appears to be an organised exercise. It has
supposed to be non-partisan are also refusing to give proof
been reported
of residence letters to opposition supporters. According to
registration has been taking place.ZEC need to investigate
the Electoral Act Part XVIIIA under ‘Intimidatory Practices’
the systematic intimidation and harassment of registered
133A intimidation is (d) withholding or threatening to
voters and clarify the position of the law on whether any
withhold from a person any assistance or benefit to which
citizen has a right to demand the serial numbers on voter
that person is legally entitled to. In 133B we note that any
registration slips.
in almost
every constituency
where
person who does any act under intimidation shall be guilty
of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or
The removal of vendors from the streets of Harare and other
to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to
central business districts of urban areas also carried with it
both such fine and such imprisonment.
vast amounts of violations as violence erupted and police
fired water and tear gas on different occasions to disperse
The BVR related violence boiled over in Chitungwiza Unit
vendors. Vendors are trying to make a living considering
N ward 23 where Zanu PF youths led by Councillor Betty
there are no formal jobs and ‘Operation Restore Order’
Dokora Jaison destroyed homes and assaulted members of
could have been done in a more considerate manner as these
the opposition MDC-T who were conducting door to door
vendors have a right to human dignity, freedom from torture
BVR mobilization. Dokora and her followers also harassed
or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
right to work and they have a right to administrative justice.
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