Right to Education
n the month of July, ZPP recorded a total of 4 cases.
A case on the right to education was reported in Mt Darwin West at Sorera primary school
in ward 16. Pupils with outstanding tuition fees and levies were turned away from school by
the school head Mrs Matsvai together with SDC members led by Mr Clemence Dahwa. The
incident happened at a time when pupils were preparing for examinations.
The United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 sustainable development goal number 4 (four)
advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education which promotes lifelong learning
opportunities for all and is in line with the national legislative framework in Zimbabwe.
Section 75 of the Zimbabwe Constitution says, ‘every citizen and permanent resident of
Zimbabwe has a right to – (a) basic State-funded education, including adult basic
education’.
Provincial Outlook
Mashonaland Central Province
Mashonaland Central recorded an increase in cases of intimidation and harassment of
opposition supporters and citizens by traditional leaders and Zanu PF activists. A case of
intimidation was reported in Mvurwi urban ward 3 at a Zanu PF campaign launch where the
party was unveiling a local authority candidate. Zanu PF activist and war veteran Cde
Nhepera reportedly threatened people to vote for Zanu PF or face certain consequences.
Nhepera also warned people that in case of a possible run off they were going to kill
people, especially opposition supporters. “You can go and report wherever you wish, even
now you can go tell the police,” said Nhepera in full view of community members. Nhepera
is an A2 farmer at Mondynes farm about 10km from Mvurwi town along Mvurwi
Mutorashanga road in Mazowe north ward 26. In 2008, he was known for commanding a
torture base at Dhawe farm in ward 26 where a lot of people were beaten and left living
with permanent injuries. On 26 July, a mob of Zanu PF supporters besieged a CCC activist’s
house in Concession Mazowe West threatening to discipline him for supporting the
opposition. The ruling party supporters allegedly invaded the victim’s home singing
revolutionary songs forcing the victim to flee. Reports indicate that the victim was saved by
some police officers from the Concession police post who dispersed the mob. Since then,
the victim and his family have been living in fear.
Harare Province
The province recorded cases associated with civil and political rights violations. In Harare
Central on 5 July, human rights lawyers Obey Shava and Chamunorwa Chingwe were
brutally assaulted and left for dead by at least four men driving in a green Mercedes Benz
sedan and a Toyota GD6 in Harare. The incident took place outside Selborne Routledge
Primary School in Belvedere shortly after 7 PM. Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who was briefed
on the attack narrated that Shava received a phone call from a man who claimed to have
an urgent legal matter and asked to meet him in the Belvedere area. Shava reportedly
agreed to meet the individuals he intended to drop off a lawyer colleague in the same
area. The assailants attacked them as soon as he came out of his car and confiscated his
phone before leaving him for dead. Shava sustained broken legs and was admitted at a
private hospital while Chingwe escaped with minor injuries.
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