Zimbabwe Peace Project

October 2015
Human Rights Violations
MONTHLY MONITORING REPORT

INTERNAL STRIFE
A cancer in Zimbabwe’s Main Political Parties

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2015_10 October Monthly Monitor Report

Monthly Monitoring Report

Executive Summary: THE restructuring exercise which the ruling Zanu-PF embarked on soon after the party 6th People’s Congress in December 2014 has shored up internal fissures which have been simmering beneath the surface. Conflict within the party has been rife following the protracted internal strife, which culminated late last year into early this year in the deposing of nine out of ten provincial chairpersons, the former Vice President, Joice Mujuru, and several ministers, among others. The restructuring exercise – an ambitious project to both clean out and clean up – spearheaded by Zanu-PF national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, brought to the fore the precarious divisions existing within the party structures. Pitted against each other – first along the Mujuru and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa factions, and of late with yet another camp - a third force dubbed ‘G40” (generation 40) that is allegedly aligned to the First Lady, Grace Mugabe – the Zanu-PF membership currently cultivates hate, malice and friction reign amongst themselves. Many of the district elections, as part of the restructuring exercise, have been characterised with violence and on occasion insubordination as party members have broken into violence right in front of their national and provincial leaders, as was the case in several of Mashonaland West elections; and in Mashonaland Central. But violence was not limited to the two provinces, Harare, Mashonaland East also had their share of violence with the other provinces also registering internal strife albeit in milder forms. Violent clashes as well as the failure on the part of the ruling party to come up with enough numbers to make a quorum in certain instances, resulted in a number of districts postponing the elections. Apparently not only is there thick strife amongst existing members, but in other instances there just aren’t the numbers – a situation which shows a troubled state for the ruling party. On the other hand, the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) had its share of internal turmoil in October. Conflict, albeit milder than it is in the ruling party, showed that unity of purpose is at threat in MDC-T. Known for splintering and re-splintering, the opposition party‘s propensity for possible splits is always present with the party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai being pitted against Kuwadzana legislator, Nelson Chamisa. Although the party still denies any rift, instances in certain areas, for example in Bulawayo following the death of Nkulumane legislator, Thamsanqa Mahlangu, among a few others, illuminate turbulences and power struggles within the party. Although inter-party violence continues to rear its ugly head, October incidences show this has taken a backseat to intra-party strife. Nevertheless, inter-party conflict continues to be concerning in and of itself. Reported instances include Zanu-PF against MDC-T instances; and another instance of significant turmoil where three truckloads of Zanu-PF youths “descended” upon a Transform Zimbabwe party meeting in Glen View. Barely three years old, the party has now had its own “baptism of violence” at the hands of the ruling Zanu-PF which showed once again intolerance of alternative political affiliation. In the cited particular event some women and youths were injured. In this event and several others in this month’s report the police response remains less than favourable as arrests are not made. In some instances allegations are that members of the police even look the other way, when violence occurs around them. Demonstrations by the MDC-T against the continued rule of President Robert Mugabe attracted alleged police brutality in Tafara, Harare, which, the Freedom to Demonstrate and Petition (Constitution 4:2:59). Also disturbing in this report are the ongoing fires at tree plantations in the Eastern Highlands. Some areas, where peasant farmers have infringed upon private property rights by resettling themselves on private land belonging to Border Timbers, Wattle Company, Mutare Board and Paper Mills and Allied Timbers, have seen extensive damage to property with invaders setting on fire more than 14 000 hectares of exotic trees’ plantation. Affected plantations are in Chimanimani, Penhalonga, Chipinge and Nyanga. Although representatives of the timber companies have reported to police and approached the courts on the invasions and fire incidences, other than some short term minor fine charges to offenders, long term recourse for the companies is yet to be effected. Meanwhile the losses continue on with the timber companies telling Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) that since October the fires occur daily. Food discriminations along party lines continued in several parts of the country particularly in Mashonaland provinces and to a lesser extent in Matabeleland. By and large most violations recorded in the month of October include the Freedom of Assembly and Association; Freedom to Demonstrate, Freedom of Expression; equality and non-discrimination; as in the cases of people being beaten up for preferring certain candidates, certain parties and in the situation where people from other parties are denied food assistance and relief. Property rights were also violated, particularly in the case of the timber plantations in Manicaland. Yet, as ZPP points out, month after month, these are rights which are enshrined in the country’s supreme charter. Citizens continue to fail to access the protections expressly granted to them by the Constitution. And so the struggle continues.

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2015_10 October MMR.pdf
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