The month of January recorded many violations which were politically motivated.
Most of the reported cases were harassment and intimidation of opposition political
activists. Other prominent cases were those of deprivation of state sponsored food
aid and inputs for farming.
Victims either had their political meetings disrupted or were harassed or intimidated
into joining other political parties. Some victims were deprived of food aid.
There was a worrying case where villagers were punished for not observing an
African sacred day. This is a long held practice in most rural areas and other urban
areas. On this day, villagers must not work in their fields.
All citizens have the freedom to assemble and that of association. This means they
are entitled to gather in meetings organised by political parties of their choice.
Citizens also have a right to freedom of expression which means they may wear
political regalia of their choice.
However there were cases of harassment and intimidation for exercising these
rights. Finally all citizens have the right to security and this includes food security.
Data Gathering Methodology
Information contained herein is based on reports from ZPP long-term community
based human rights monitors, who observe and record cases of human rights
violations in the constituencies they reside. ZPP deploys a total of 420 communitybased primary peace monitors (two per each of the 210 electoral constituencies of
Zimbabwe). The monitors compile reports that are handed over to ZPP Coordinators
who man the different ZPP regional offices in the ten administrative provinces of
Zimbabwe. Upon receipt and verification of the reports from the monitors, the
Coordinators compile provincial monthly monitoring reports, which are then
consolidated at the national office into the ZPP Monthly Monitoring Report published
in retrospect.
This report contains some of the violations recorded by ZPP, the organisation has a
data base with the rest of the injustices and gladly shares it with interested
stakeholders.
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