April 2019
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Loss and destruction of property was prevalent as people’s houses and property was
destroyed in the evictions-where oftentimes victims were not given prior notice.
There was a slight decrease in violations recorded throughout the country from 212 recorded
in March to 171 in April. The percentage of cases of discrimination for example decreased
from 16.9% recorded in March to 5.3%; an 11.6% decrease. This decrease could be explained
by the fact that there was a shift of focus as perpetrators concentrated on gathering donations
for the Independence Day celebrations. This saw a 5.1% increase in cases of intimidation and
harassment in April. Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East provinces recorded the
highest number of cases with 44 and 28 respectively. This was a drop from 56 violations
recorded in March in Mashonaland Central and 23 cases reported in Mashonaland East.
intimidation and harassment presumably related to donations sought for Independence Day
celebrations was the main contributor of violations followed by discrimination in the
distribution of food aid.
On the other hand Matabeleland regions and Bulawayo as is usually the case, again recorded
the least number of violations. Matabeleland South and Bulawayo recorded 2 violations each,
while Matabeleland North had a single recorded case. These numbers reflect a further drop
in violations from the 6 recorded in Bulawayo and 5 noted in Matabeleland North. However,
Matabeleland South’s two violations were an increase from the single case reported in the
previous month. For both the high and low statistics recorded in the provinces, intimidation
and harassment are the most prominent violations. The low number of cases recorded in these
provinces could be because of historical experiences that unite the people. On the other hand
the divisions in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East provinces are a result of
political contestations that lead to conflict.
Zanu PF played a prominent role in the victimisation of Cyclone Idai survivors. For example,
in Masvingo Province, Gutu North Ward 8, the committee set up by the ruling party to
distribute aid to families affected by the cyclone have stopped doing so and instead are
distributing aid to party members. The committee is led by ward councillor Tamson
Chindedza of Zanu PF (52). Other members are one Gutuza (46), Farai Chenjerai (48) and
Chiedza Mabhachi (56). The committee members gave victims wrong dates and by the time
they gathered to receive the aid, they had already shared it among themselves.
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