JULY 2017
Provincial Highlights
Threat level: Medium
On 22 July in Harare along Churchill Road in Alex Park,
while police were manning a speed trap one police
officer threw a spike at a moving vehicle. This caused
the driver to lose control and veer off the road hitting the
University of Zimbabwe iron wall. There were adults
and a child barely four years old in the vehicle. Four
people were injured and two of them sustained fractures.
The affected family filed a complaint with the police
department but was instead charged with negligent
driving and informed that they should have driven over
the spikes instead of evading them.
Threat level: Low
It was reported that on 18 July at the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) Information Centre, in ward 7
of Makokoba, seven suspected MDC-T youths raided
the centre and destroyed files belonging to PDP. It is
alleged that the youths who included Admire Kashiki,
Ian Gombeza, Kenneth Moyo and Homes Mtungwazi
had intended to set the information centre ablaze. Police
arrived while the MDC-T youths were still destroying
documents and apprehended them. Of late, police
officers have been seen patrolling the area.
In Chitungwiza South ward 23 it is alleged that there is a
house popularly known as Damara that ruling party
youths have turned into a terror base targeting
opposition activists. ZanuPF youth Chairperson Peter
Anusa, Timmy Chitembwe, Cephas, Charles aka
Mbombo, Tinashe Chitsere, Robert, Reza are some of
the people known to spend time at the supposed terror
base. It is also reported that at this base opposition
supporters are detained, questioned, assaulted and also
have their regalia burnt. In June youths from this terror
base were accused of assaulting an MDC-T supporter
who was on her way to a rally and destroying property
belonging to another MDC-T deputy organising
secretary of women’s assembly from Chitungwiza.
There are allegations of drug dealing associated with the
said house.
In ward 3 of Bulawayo East it was reported that a man
only identified as Mberengwa and known to be the
Residents Association secretary, denied residents food
aid in unclear circumstances. Community members had
gathered around 1pm on 20 July at Mahatshula shopping
centre anticipating to receive their monthly food aid
under a drought relief food aid programme. As the food
was distributed, it is said that Mberengwa denied various
individuals telling some of them that their names were
not appearing on the list of beneficiaries.
Category of incident
July 2017
Assault
Theft/looting
Discrimination
MDP
Intimidation/harassment
0
1
0
1
1
June
2017
1
0
1
1
1
After participating in a University of Zimbabwe (UZ)
medical student’s demonstration against fees hike on 26
June, UZ political science student Fanuel Kaseke was
allegedly abducted by unidentified state agents on his
way home in Unit A Chitungwiza ward 22 on 28 June.
He was found unconscious in Mbare on 5 July. Kaseke
says he was assaulted, tortured and questioned on his
involvement in the demonstration. He was made to drink
an unspecified liquid and thereafter fell unconscious. His
whereabouts were unknown for a week and his case was
reported to Chitungwiza Police Station (RRB3190902).
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