APRIL2018
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
observed earlier, although no less disturbing, these cases appear to be simply a
matter of indiscipline within the military.
Cases of abuse by the police on the other hand, although marginal, appeared
more partisan and politically motivated. In one of the cases, an MDC-T activist was
allegedly assaulted and detained at Bindura police station for sitting on a chair that
was reserved for the Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister during the
Independence Day commemorations in the town. In another incident, the police in
Goromonzi, it is alleged, unlawfully detained an MDC-T activist on trumped up
charges by a ZanuPF councillor. The councillor allegedly broke windows at his
house and then framed the MDC-T activist resulting in his arrest. At the same
time, the police in Masvingo reportedly failed to contain intraparty violence during
ZanuPF primary elections leading the Police Officer Commanding Renco Mine
calling the ZanuPF Masvingo provincial chairperson to intervene.
By gender, the perpetrators were predominantly male.
Victims: The victims of the human rights violations recorded largely
remained the unsuspecting members of the public who cannot be identified by any
political affiliation. Most of the victims, especially the victims of coercion,
intimidation and harassment, were rural or farm folk, who have traditionally been
the most vulnerable. The victims of intraparty violence on the other hand were
predominantly ZanuPF members or supporters involved in the party’s primary
elections, although several cases of intraparty violence in the MDC over
candidature in the upcoming election or along the Chamisa/Khuphe factional divide,
were also recorded. The victims of the few cases of interparty violence on the
other hands were mainly opposition members, principally the MDC-T, with one
case involving Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) supporters and another National
People’s Party (NPP) supporters. Only in one instance was a ZanuPF supporter
assaulted by MDC-T supporters after provoking them.
By gender, the victims remained predominantly male
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