Monthly Monitoring Report
March 2024
Provincial Highlights
Masvingo
Bulawayo
In Masvingo Province there were a host of violations
including assaults, violations of rights to freedom of
assembly and association, political rights among others.
At Denge Village in Ward 9 of Chivi North, a ZANU PF
member identified as Shelton Mapuranga threatened
terror on villagers and a certain family for inviting Nelson
Chamisa to address mourners at a funeral of their
matriarch. After the burial, it is said Shelton and crew
threatened to beat all villagers who had organized and
invited Nelson Chamisa. A similar case of disregard for
the right to freedom of assembly and association was
recorded in ward 15 of Masvingo Province , where a
village head identified as Desmond Rukomba summoned
community members supporting Nelson Chamisa' Blue
Movement. The village head accused the villagers for
attending and mobilizing villagers to meet Amos Chibaya,
a political actor aligned to a movement canvassing
support for Chamisa. The village head threatened to
remove those that attended from the food aid beneficiary
Cases of political intolerance were recorded
in the province often culminating in political
violence. Sizakele Sibanda of Mthwakazi
Liberation Party assaulted a male victim in
Lobengula suburb, after the former told
Sibanda that their party seemed to be more
of a tribal outfit than a political party. The
remarks angered Sibanda who assaulted him
with punches and blows. In ward 20 of
Phelandaba-Tshabalala at Mayenziwe Shop
borehole, a ZANU PF activist identified as
Mai Mthandazo denied several victims access
to clean water, because they are nonmembers of the ruling party. Mai Mthandazo
claimed that the borehole was drilled by
ZANU PF, hence only ruling party members
are permitted. Everyone, according to Section
77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, has a
right to safe, clean and potable water, and
must also be treated equally and not to be
discriminated against (Section 56)
list and that they may face evictions from the village. The
act violates political rights as well as freedom of assembly
and association.
Matabelaland
North
Several violations were reported in the province including incidents of forced
attendance
at
public
gatherings,
intimidation,
discrimination
and
unfair
distribution of food aid on party lines. ZANU PF was at the center of
intimidation and used the promise of food aid to compel community members
to join and support its activities or risk not benefiting from the relief
programmes. In ward 9 at Saba village, an MDC-Alliance activist identified as
Fank Mudimba threatened to beat up 2 male victims for stating that the only
solution to the Zimbabwean Crisis was Nelson Chamisa.
In Matabeleland South, there were violations related to intimidation and
disregard for human dignity. In Ward 4 of Gwanda-Tsitaudze constituency,
Matabeleland
South
Gerald Moyo a ZANU PF member manhandled a victim and tore apart his shirt
in the full glare of the public. The victim, a CCC supporter had refused to
remove his party’s branded t-shirt saying his party is fully registered and he
had rights to support it. Moyo then responded harshly leaving the victim
embarrassed and shaken.
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