relocated to a new area 40km away. The villagers were also deprived of their property after
they were forced to leave their livestock and crops behind.
The fight against impunity received a major boost when the High Court ruled that those who
carry out torture and other illegalities in the course of their duties can be sued in their
personal capacity in the case of Minister of State Security vs. Jestina Mukoko.
Finally all eyes have been in Mwenezi East where Zimbabwe People First candidate
Kudakwashe Bhasikiti withdrew from the by-election slated for 8 April arguing that his
supporters are being harassed and he is being prevented from holding rallies. The ruling Zanu
PF has been accused of vote buying using maize and rice accessed from the Grain Marketing
Board (GMB). Traditional leaders have also been actively campaigning for the ruling party in
violation of Section 281 of the constitution.
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) reports for March show a total of 112 violations down from
last month’s 144. The month under focus had 655 victims altogether. Of these victims, those
from the Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) were 21 people 3, 2 %, and those affiliated to the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) stood at 14, 35 % which translates to 94 people.
The increase in MDC-T victims may be linked to the increased political activity by the
opposition party’s Morgan Tsvangirai who has been going around the country meeting
opinion leaders.
A total of 655 victims and 263 perpetrators were recorded. 62,4 % of the victims were male
while 37,5 % were females. 90, 5% of the perpetrators were male while 9, 5 % were female.
One hundred and sixty seven (167) perpetrators were affiliated to the ruling Zanu PF party
which is 63,5 % of the figure. Four perpetrators could not be established which party they
were affiliated to. Eighty one (81) perpetrators were police officers while 8 perpetrators
where from the Zimbabwe National Army. Two (2) of the perpetrators were Central
Intelligence Organisation operatives and 1 perpetrator was from the MDC-T.
Risk Assessment
From the reports in the month under review the 2018 elections are giving way to intolerance
in communities where citizens are continually being threatened with unspecified action in
some instances if they do not vote wisely. What is also evident is the fact that citizens are
living in fear as they are told that their vote is not a secret in the 2018 elections. Leaders in
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