MAY 2018
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
the recorded incidents included fist fights, poll disruptions, destruction of
property, and so on. In Midlands, a case involving the abduction of a suspected
Zanu PF spy by MDC-T officials was recorded, while three cases involving the
use of a firearm were also recorded. In Chegutu, the sitting Member of
Parliament reportedly fired a gun during skirmishes over Zanu PF primary
elections, while in Bulawayo, an MDC-T councillor allegedly threatened to shoot
rival supporters, and in Kuwadzana, an aspiring MDC-T parliamentary candidate
reportedly moved around with a gun to intimidate rivals.
By provinces, Manicaland had the highest number of violations with 15
cases; half of which related to intraparty violence and victimisation. Harare
province and Mashonaland both recorded 13 cases of violations. In Harare,
nearly half the cases were related to intraparty violence owing to the primary
elections, while in Mashonaland Central nearly half related to victimisation,
intimidation and harassment. The Matebeleland provinces on the other hand had
the lowest incidents of violations, with two cases of intraparty political violence
recorded in Bulawayo, two cases of victimisation in Matebeleland North and no
recorded case in Matebeleland South.
In relation to the politically motivated cases, most of the violations were
targeted at political opponents, either in relation to the primaries or across the
MDC-T/Zanu PF divide. A few cases of intimidation by Zanu PF members were
however recorded against National People’s Party (NPP) supporters. The
perpetrators of the violations were predominantly male and were mainly at a
localised level although there were instances involving senior officials like sitting
or aspiring Members of Parliament or councillors. Local leaders, especially
village heads continued to be implicated in partisan conduct, including
victimisation, intimidation and harassment. In relation to the non-political cases,
although isolated, ZNA officials continued to be implicated in cases of public
assault, while public officials were also implicated in corrupt or criminal conduct,
including theft of livestock and the misappropriation of food aid.
The victims of the violations, likewise, were mainly localised and were
either political rivals within the same party, members of the opposition or
members of the public, especially the rural folk. The villagers were mostly prone
to victimisation, intimidation and harassment, coercion and discrimination,
especially at the hands of Zanu PF officials or traditional leaders at their
respective local levels. City dwellers on the other hand suffered intraparty
violence the most.
See diagram below.
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