Monthly Monitoring Report
February 2024
Key Human Rights Violations
Political rights violations
ZPP recorded 18 cases of violations of political rights. The cases included intimidation where citizens
were threatened with evictions and death, for their political choices. Section 67 of the Zimbabwean
Constitution outlines the provisions for political rights including the right to make political choices freely
(1b). These entitlements (in Section 67) ensure that citizens have the freedom to express their opinions,
vote in elections, and engage in political activities without any undue influence. In Hurungwe West, Chief
Nyamhunga (Borniface Chinehasha) forced a new village head to denounce the opposition party CCC in
the full glare of villagers and ordered him to surrender party regalia. The Chief was recorded issuing a
stern warning to villagers noting that only ruling party members can be installed as village heads. Section
281 (2a) states that traditional leaders must not be members of any political party or in any way
participate in partisan politics. The abuse of power by traditional leaders further the violation of people’s
political rights as well as their freedom of assembly and association (Section 58). Besides the use of
force, violence and unspecified threats, violations of political rights have also been perpetuated through
manipulation of food aid to coerce desperate citizens to vote for or support ZANU PF. In Masunda Village,
Chivi North, a widow was deprived of her monthly rations she relies on for survival. ZANU PF officials
identified as Jeniffer Pedzisai and Simangele Rukato denied the victim aid, accusing her of abandoning
the ruling party for the new movement led by Nelson Chamisa.
Violations of the Right to Food
The effects of the El Niño-induced drought, coupled with the gross politicisation of food aid, will make it
difficult for some Zimbabweans to access food. The latest figures by the World Food Programme (WFP)
show that about 5.3 million Zimbabweans are this year facing food insecurity. The seriousness of the food
security situation is aggravated by a pattern of unfair distributions of food aid in several communities. In
February, ZPP recorded 12 cases of unfair food aid and agricultural inputs distributions. The majority of
the victims were deprived on the basis of their affiliation to the opposition political parties. ZANU PF
officials and village heads are largely the perpetrators manipulating food aid and violating victims of their
right to food. In ward 17 of Zaka Central, in Masvingo Province, two supposed beneficiaries of aid were
denied their rations of sorghum seeds and fertilizer by Hodha Pfuwai, a ZANU PF Ward Chairperson on
the basis that they were polling agents for the CCC in the August 2023 elections. In a similar trend, in
Mashonaland West, at Mashuma Business Centre in Hurungwe, about 10 community members perceived
to be members of the opposition parties were turned away from the distribution of food aid brought by
Hurungwe West Member of Parliament Chinjai Kambuzuma. Kambuzuma is reported to have said that the
aid was only for those who voted for the ruling party and each beneficiary received a 5kg bag of mealie
meal.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project recommends that government-sponsored food aid and
agricultural inputs must be distributed by government officials and not political party
members to avoid the politicisation of aid and the unjust discrimination of beneficiaries.
ZPP further recommends that the police should investigate and arrest all perpetrators
reported to be abusing publicly funded aid for personal gain or for political mileage.
ZPP recommends that the government, through all its institutions, must promote the rule
of law, including prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of political violence to
uphold citizens' rights and freedoms.
ZPP further recommends that the police and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
should investigate all cases of violations against arbitrary evictions where victims were
un-procedurally evicted from their homes or had their homes demolished without notice
or consultation.
ZPP recommends that political parties make deliberate efforts to prevent internal
political violence and find amicable ways of resolving internal differences.
ZPP urges all members of the public to report human rights violations and abuses to any
nearest police stations or make us of the ZPP Hotlines 0774883417; 0774883406
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