KEY VIOLATIONS
HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION
In August 2025, ZPP documented 29 human rights violations across different communities, with the majority
involving threats of violence, harassment, and intimidation. These violations targeted ordinary villagers and
opposition supporters, and were often perpetrated by political actors, traditional leaders, and ruling party
officials. The incidents highlight a disturbing pattern where coercion and fear are being systematically
deployed to silence dissent and enforce political control.
At a ZANU PF meeting in Murewa North Ward 30, the Member of Parliament for Murehwa North Daniel Garwe,
threatened villagers with physical harm through inflammatory statements that likened opposition supporters or
anyone seemingly supporting former ZANU PF member Blessed Geza to pests to be “mashed by hand.” This
statement invites violence against opposition supporters and sympathisers of Blessed Geza by other
perpetrators. During the Rwandan genocide, the Tutsis were referred to as cockroaches, and such reckless
statements by someone in authority have potentially chilling ramifications if his supporters take them seriously. .
Such threats undermine the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and association, guaranteed under Articles
19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Further, the use of state-linked programs such
as National Heroes’ Day celebrations as tools of coercion also raises serious concerns about discrimination and
the denial of equal protection before the law. In Goromonzi South’s Ward 25, ZANU PF leaders including
Bridget Musikavanhu, Antony Chisale, and Gilbert Njanji compelled villagers to pay USD $2 towards Heroes
Day celebrations, threatening those who could not afford to pay with eviction from land and vending stalls. 3
community members who resisted were singled out, accused of being sympathisers of opposition parties and
were threatened to be evicted from their vending stalls. Such harassment and intimidation reinforce the
weaponisation of livelihoods against political dissent. Similarly, in Hwiru, Ward 34 of Gutu Central,
preparations for a community food festival were disrupted when a government official and committee
organisers were harassed by ruling party district leader identified as Mr Masara, who insisted that no activity
could proceed without ruling party approval exposing how traditional institutions are being subordinated to
partisan control.
Truck collecting grain collected from villagers
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