PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
Mashonaland Central
Mashonaland Central Province recorded nine human rights violations in December, with the most serious
involving loss of life, excessive use of force, and political intimidation. In Chipadze, Bindura, a street vendor
was violently assaulted by police officers after failing to deliver an extorted payment collected from other
vendors. He was pursued, harassed, and beaten with a baton, resulting in the loss of sight in one eye. Officers
ignored his pleas for help, threatened him not to report the incident, and claimed they could evade
accountability. In Guruve, the loss of life involving multiple victims, including women and children, were
recorded in grave circumstances. The suspected murderer, Anymore Zvitsa was arrested and arraigned for at
least 15 murders. These killings raise serious concerns in the protection of the right to life.
In Mazowe West and Bindura, cases of abuse of authority were recorded, including extortion and brutal
assault by police. Notably, a vendor in Chipadze was severely beaten by police over extortion demands,
resulting in permanent loss of sight, followed by threats to prevent him from reporting the case, violating rights
to personal security, access to justice, and freedom from torture and intimidation. The province also recorded
politicised and exclusionary distribution of agricultural inputs in Shamva North and other areas, where
beneficiaries were denied assistance or charged multiple unlawful fees, undermining equality, food security,
and livelihoods. Additionally, in Muzarabani, failure to investigate a police killing and threats of violence by
ruling party youths against perceived opposition supporters further demonstrate a pattern of impunity, political
coercion, and systemic disregard for fundamental rights.
Masvingo
Masvingo Province recorded 10 human rights violations in December relating to discriminatory distribution of
agricultural inputs and intimidation of the media among others. In several wards, including Masvingo South
Ward 12 and Gutu North Ward 38, local leaders and councillors manipulated beneficiary lists, imposed unlawful
fees, and favoured ruling party supporters, resulting in widespread exclusion of vulnerable households who
could not pay or lacked political affiliation. In some cases, families were forced to share a single bag of
fertilizer while others received full allocations, undermining the rights to equality, non-discrimination, food, and
livelihoods. These practices were carried out under the authority of traditional leaders and councillors,
reflecting abuse of power and lack of accountability. In addition, in Masvingo Urban, journalists from The Mirror
were threatened and intimidated by police while documenting alleged land displacement involving a senior
official, violating freedoms of expression, media, and access to information. These cases highlight entrenched
patterns of politicisation, corruption, and repression that continue to erode socio-economic rights and civic
freedoms in the province.
Midlands
In December, eight human rights violations were recorded in Midlands Province, including the use of excessive
force, politicised access to assistance, forced evictions, and denial of basic services. In Shurugwi, five artisanal
miners were assaulted by members of the national army at a gold mining site, constituting a grave violation of the
right to personal security. The province also recorded discriminatory practices in food and input distribution,
including the denial of aid to individuals for failing to attend ruling party meetings such as in Shurugwi Ward 23,
and the exclusion of ordinary farmers from government programmes in favour of politically connected leaders,
undermining equality and non-discrimination. Additionally, residents linked to Zimasco communities in Shurugwi
reported threats of eviction, inflated rentals, and abuse of authority allegedly involving politically connected
actors, placing the rights to housing, dignity, and security of tenure at risk. In Chiwundura, prolonged shortages of
essential medicines at a local clinic left patients unable to access healthcare, resulting in severe health
complications and highlighting violations of the right to health.
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