Key Violations
Zimbabwe Peace Project
FINDINGS FROM BY-ELECTION
INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT
ZPP recorded a total of 11violations of harassment and intimidation in the four byelections. The violations affected a total of 1574 people. On 14 June 2025, a ZANU PF
We Chairman
are at the highest
we've
been since
2002. Congratulations
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District
in Gutupoint
district
gathered
community
members at a to
dip
tank located
just outside the restricted 300-meter radius of Dambara Primary School Polling Station
in Nyazvidzi, Gutu East Constituency. He then proceeded to intimidate and coach
these individuals on how to vote. Gift Gonese, an independent candidate in the Gutu
East parliamentary by-election’s polling agents confirmed that they filed a report
regarding this intimidation and campaigning within the restricted 300-meter radius
with both the Polling Officer and the Police.
In Chipinge Rural District Council’s Ward 5, members of the ruling party, ZANU PF,
used violence and different forms of intimidation to scare voters. Traditional leaders
(village heads) and political activists made public threats during rallies, warning people
that they could be evicted from their land if they voted against the ruling party. They
also threatened violence. Several groups, including villagers from both within and
outside the ward, were placed at key points near all seven polling stations. Their job
was to remind people to “vote correctly.” These groups were seen directing voters,
taking down their names, and making threats—creating a tense and frightening
environment throughout the ward. Two male candidates said they were visited at night
by strangers before the election. One manager at a farming estate was threatened, and
his family and workers were badly beaten by people looking for him.
In addition to these activities at the polling stations, commuter omnibuses transported
individuals from outside Ward 5 into local townships who were aggressively
campaigning forcing people to attend meetings thus violating their freedom of
assembly and association. This movement of individuals from external areas further
contributed to the pervasive atmosphere of fear and intimidation. The alarming threats
have caused community members to vote in fear, especially considering the trauma
from the gross acts of violence that characterized the 2008 and 2013 elections.
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