Executive Summary
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) reports for April show a total of 139 violations up from last
month’s 123. The month under focus had 292 victims altogether. Of these victims, those
from the new party on the block, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) were 23 people (7.5%),
which is a third of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) victims which stood at
22.6% which translates to 66 people. This showed that while ZimPF members were now also
a target of Zanu-PF, MDC-T was still more on the receiving end of violations.
April reports were littered with cases of forced contributions of money towards the
Independence Day celebrations. People, mostly villagers, were forced to contribute between
US$1 and US$2 for the celebrations. While in most cases villagers, who have always been
vulnerable at the hands of Zanu-PF driven demands made the contributions, some were
unable to afford due to crippling poverty which has spread across the country.
Villagers were threatened with non-inclusion in food aid distribution exercises. According to
food distribution guidelines the management and distribution of food and other relief is
supposed to be based purely on criteria of need and not on partisan grounds, and without
adverse distinction of any kind like the requirement to contribute to independence
celebrations.
It was noteworthy in a number of instances across the countryside that while villagers
complied into paying the requested amounts they, however, did not attend. Low attendances
at the Independence Day festivities were recorded. But as well, there were also instances of
forced attendances.
While traditional leaders continue to play the vanguard role of ensuring their people toe the
Zanu-PF line, it is worth mentioning that there are some pockets of resistance among these
leaders where they are protecting their people. For example in Hwedza, Mashonaland East
some chiefs protected their people from the demands of contributing money for the
Independence Day celebrations.
Discrimination around food distribution continues to rear its ugly head with some members
of the opposition denied access to the food. In some instances, the elderly and other
vulnerable members of the communities are going without food aid which would be intended
for them as traditional leaders and councillors favour their own people from the ruling ZanuPF party.
The month also saw a chilling incident where ZimPF member, Antony Kambaza (48), of
Freza Farm, Ward 20 in Bindura North had his house and motor bike burnt by Zanu-PF
supporters. According to ZimPF Kambaza was targeted because of his membership of the
new party but also additionally because he is ZimPF leader, Joice Mujuru’s nephew. The
impunity of Zanu-PF agents also reared its ugly head when in Chinhoyi a church
interdenominational (mubatanidzwa) meeting where Mujuru was set to officiate at was
prevented from taking place. The entrance to the venue was locked thereby making it
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