In Matabeleland North the hardest hit areas of Sipepa include Mahlosi, Mahlaba, Thamuhla,
Mbamba, Mele, Lutshome, Maphili and Mbanyana.
Over sixty families have been displaced resulting in
them being housed at a camp. Five (5) schools were
flooded forcing children to abandon their studies. In
Matabeleland South a total of 4 schools were shut down
after they were affected by the floods.
Matabeleland South also hosted the 21st February
Movement celebrations in Matopos and this resulted in
the closure of schools. School children were ordered to
attend the event while other violations such as
harassment and intimidation and deprivation of
Figure 4: Situation in Matabeleland North,
ZPP photos
property were recorded in the region.
In other provinces that have not been affected by the floods the usual violations were
recorded. There were cases of political violence, deprivation of food and denial of rights to
education and health care on partisan political grounds.
People continue to be deprived of food mainly by ruling Zanu PF functionaries on allegations
that they are opposition supporters. In Mashonaland Central two people had their farms
invaded after they defected from Zanu PF to Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF).
In a bizarre case, a citizen was harassed for wearing a t-shirt that appeared to mock President
Robert Mugabe’s birthday. People were forced to contribute between $1 and $2 for the
President’s birthday celebrations across the country.
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) report for February reveals a total of 147 violations up from
last month’s 108 cases. The month under focus had 663 victims altogether. Of these victims,
those from the Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) were 44 people 6,5 %, and those affiliated to
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) stood at 1, 8% which translates to 12
people. Victims affiliated to the MDC-T declined while those affiliated to ZimPF increased.
90.8 % of the victims did not reveal their political affiliations. This suggests that political
violence is no longer targeted to known political parties but against those who may be
politically inactive.
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