Resist, Reject and Report Violence, #RRRV2023
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The RoundUP
February, the month of love proved not to be so concerning the human rights situation. Though February is a
shorter month, ZPP recorded 241 human rights violations, a slight increase from 231 in January 2023. 56% of
the violations were of threats, harassment, and intimidation, 15% of discrimination and 13% of assaults. ZPP
identified 1 722 victims of human rights violations (75% male, 24% female, 0.5% male persons with
disability and 0.3% female PWDs). The general citizens populated the highest percentage of victims, 90%,
and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters followed with 8%. Zanu PF party perpetrated the most
violations (48%), followed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) at 17%. Midlands (38) and Mashonaland
Central (33) provinces recorded the highest violations, whilst Matabeleland North (7) and South (12) and
Bulawayo (12) had the lowest.
The human rights situation across the country was characterized by widespread cases of harassment and
intimidation of citizens in general and opposition members, especially in their gatherings which were
systematically banned by the police in suspiciously politically influenced decisions. Inter-party violence was
also recorded in Gokwe North, Kadoma, Sanyati, and Mazowe. There was also notable coercing of people in
communities to join Zanu PF. In most communities the party is using cell lists to intimidate and ensure
everyone appears on it. In some communities known or suspected supporters of other parties are being
grafted into leadership roles at the level of the cell. Those who are spurning these demands which, infringe
on section 58 of the Constitution, are targeted with assaults and discrimination when it comes to the
distribution of food and agricultural inputs. Political space continues to shrink for the opposition and many
people are not free to assert their rights in their communities. Threats and intimidation cases were most
prevalent in Murehwa, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, Mudzi, Gokwe Chireya, Kabuyuni, Gumunyu, Mkoba,
Zvishavane Ngezi, Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana, Epworth Lupane, and Insiza, to name a few. Political intolerance
is soaring, resulting in tensions that have the potential to breed more violence and electoral malpractices in
the coming months.
Most rural and some urban communities are not boding well for election season expected in a few months as
rising tensions are keeping citizens in constant fear. They are being forced to attend meetings on a daily
basis in some communities largely convened by traditional leaders some of whom are advising villagers to
don ruling party regalia for ‘protection’. It is at these meetings and through door to door visits that villagers
are coerced to have their names on the cell lists. In urban areas vending sites have become a target of the
daily meetings where vendors seeking to maintain sources of livelihood are forced by officials of the ruling
party to tow the line and religiously attend the meetings.
February 2023
The Zimbabwe Peace Project Monthly Monitoring Report
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