Provincial Outlook
DECEMBER, 2023
Harare
Harare Province recorded cases of violations of political rights and assault. Politically motivated
violence was reported in Epworth North on 6 December in Ward 7. It is said that ZANU PF activists led
by Cde Taura Kundishaya terrorized residents in ward 7 accusing them of sympathizing with
opposition CCC members. A victim in ward 7 was beaten with an iron bar after he was selected by
residents to be part of a borehole committee appointed by a CCC Councillor. The perpetrators
reportedly went further to threaten a CCC Councillor and a council employee from the water
department in Epworth accusing him of ‘working with sellouts’. The case was filed with the police but
the perpetrators were not arrested.
Mashonaland Central
In Mashonaland Central, ZPP recorded socio-economic rights violations. There was an increase in
partisan allocation of Pfumvudza farming inputs by ZANU PF activists. On 9 December, Guruve North,
Village head Specia Chikwati reportedly withheld 50 kgs bags of maize seed from beneficiaries during
a community distribution of Pfumvudza farming inputs. Reports indicate that Chikwati in company of
his village secretary distributed a few bags of fertilizers before telling beneficiaries that the rations
were finished. A complaint was allegedly raised and the distribution books were reportedly taken by
ZANU PF Councillor Samson Kamu for redress. Discrimination was reported on 17 December in
Mazowe Central, Ward 11, Nyachuru village around Howard Mission areas. It is said that perceived
opposition CCC supporters and sympathizers were denied farming inputs by ZANU PF activists.
Reports say that workers at Howard Hospital, Nyachuru primary and secondary schools and teachers
at Howard High School teachers were among those who were denied fertilizers and maize seed on
accusations of not voting for the ruling party during elections. Villages heads in charge of distributions
in ward 11 were reportedly instructed to deny them inputs by ZANU PF district leaders. The instruction
was said to be from the top ZANU PF district hierarchy. A case on the right to administrative justice
was reported in Guruve North at Negomo Primary School in ward 19. It is said that during a community
distribution of government aid, village secretary Wonder Nyamadzau prioritised his friends and
relatives as beneficiaries of the aid. The issue reportedly left many people disadvantaged as
prospective beneficiaries did not receive fertilizers, groundnut seeds, sugar bean seeds and maize
seeds which were being distributed.
Masvingo
Cases of unfair and partisan distribution of maize, farming inputs and other schemes were recorded in
Masvingo. In some instances, members of the opposition particularly of the CCC were deprived of
registering and benefiting from the government schemes. At Ward 1 councilor Kudakwashe Mutami
told villagers that only those who attend ZANU PF meetings can be beneficiaries. In Zaka North a
ZANU PF activist identified as Mr. Mavhumira gave Pfumvudza inputs to only those that were
appearing in the ZANU PF cell group list. He is also accused of forcing villagers to chant ZANU PF
slogans prior to the distribution. Forcing villagers to partake in political activities as a precondition for
them to get humanitarian aid violates their political rights and deny them the right to freedom of
association and of conscience. A similar case was witnessed in Mwenezi East ward 5 where a ZANU
PF activist identified as Shamhuyashe was instructed by David Masvina to strictly write those who
support ZANU PF and leave those who supported CCC or even showed any signs of wanting to be
part of CCC during previous elections. A known opposition supporter was deliberately omitted from the
list.
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