Provincial Summaries
Bulawayo
The Province continued to suffer serious levels of hunger due to drought and poverty caused
by high levels of unemployment. Though food was available in shops most people had no
money and most could only afford a single meal a day. On the political front the Zimbabwe
People First (ZimPF) held several meetings culminating in their rally on 19 June at Stanley
square addressed by their leader former Vice President Joice Mujuru.
HIGHLIGHTS
As the debilitating hunger continued to bite, hundreds of people who had attended
ZimPF rally at Stanley Square in Makokoba on June 19 ended up shoving, jostling
and fighting for food. In the end most of the food was strewn around and destroyed.
There is evidence of serious food shortages in the province and the result is the
violation of people’s right to food.
A group of about 15 war veterans met at fellow member Mkwananzi’s residence in
Pumula East on 6 June where they denounced Zanu PF MP Godfrey Malaba for
having attended an MDC-T member MaMsipha's funeral. They accused him for
having spoken well of the deceased opposition member and vowed to decampaign
him in future elections.
On 27 June 30 youths were arrested for protesting against poverty. The youths were
mobilised by a Bulawayo pressure group, Bulawayo Youths Arise (Buya). The
protestors were reportedly later released without charge.
No violations were noted in Bulawayo South. ZimPF was noted campaigning door to
door in the month of June.
On 29 June residents held several meetings in Bulawayo East where they complained
about the unreasonably high number of police roadblocks and promised to take this up
with MP Thabitha Khumalo
In Lobengula about 120 Zanu PF youths who had been promised housing land after
registering were reportedly omitted from the official list even after paying the fifty
cents registration fee. Zanu PF ward officials Mrs Tau Ndlovu, Mary Esther Tshuma,
and Tapsom Makona made the announcement on June 29 at a venue in New
Lobengula. The youths felt discriminated against and deprived of their right to land.
Harare
During the period under review the province was a hive of activity as a number of violations
were recorded. Section 58 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that, every person has
the right to freedom of assembly and association and the right not to assemble or associate
with others. This was not the case in Zengeza West where residents were assaulted for
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