February 2018
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
assaulted for refusing to disclose his voter
registration slip serial number. The perpetrator
was found guilty and sentenced to 105 hours of
community service. Members of the ZNA
assaulted a bus driver in Chiredzi South for
allegedly transporting border jumpers to
neighbouring South Africa through the Limpopo
River.
ZEC and ZRP. Such cases in other areas have
significantly disappeared although subtle ways of
intimidation especially being forced to attend
Zanu PF meetings have become the order of the
day. Candidate imposition is seen as a future
source of conflict in both the ruling party and
opposition. In Tsholotsho North in particular, it is
said that Retired Brigadier Sakhumuzi Khumalo
has been imposed as the incumbent Zanu PF
Member of Parliament. Khumalo seeks to replace
Jonathan Moyo.
Cases of violations with regards to the electoral
act declined during the month under review. This
may be due to the fact that ZEC and ZRP publicly
condemned the practice. But still in areas like
Bikita South, Masvingo Central, Bikita South and
Gutu Central cases such violations recorded. Food
aid continued to be a political tool to induce
compliance.
Category of incident
Feb 2018
Jan 2018
Assault
3
2
Discrimination
2
8
Intimidation/harassment
13
27
Theft/looting
2
0
Category of incident
Feb 2018
Jan 2018
Assault
0
0
Theft/looting
0
0
Discrimination
0
1
Intimidation/harassment
3
4
Threat level: Low
In the month of February, the province recorded
two cases of human rights violations. Citizens
demonstrated against a headmaster who is alleged
to have committed fraud and hence the school had
to shut down for days. The other one was recorded
in Beitbridge East where Zanu PF activists forced
citizens to join the cell groups after they had
misled them that the meeting was for fertiliser
distribution. This suggests that Zanu PF activists
continue to intimidate and threaten citizens. This
has been an ongoing trend in the province since
January.
Threat level: Low
The period under review, recorded two cases of
Zanu PF activists forcibly demanding voter
registration slips from citizens in Bubi and
Hwange. This was done shortly after the public
pronouncement by ZEC and ZRP which barred
individuals from demanding voters registration
slips from citizens. In some areas within the
province, Zanu PF activists remain loyal to the old
habits of intimidation worse off after satements by
Category of incident
Assault
12
Feb 2018
Jan 2018
0
0