Mashonaland West
Mashonaland West Province witnessed a disturbing surge in human rights
violations, with reported cases rising from 23 in the previous month to 32 in
August. The majority of these incidents involved the denial of fundamental
rights, including access to food and water, personal security, freedom of
assembly and association, and protection from intimidation and harassment. A
notable incident occurred in August 2024, when 14 members of the CCC, led by
former MP Mr. Houghton and George Masendu, were arrested and harassed by
police and CID officials while holding a meeting at the information centre near
Kariba airport. The authorities falsely accused them of planning a demonstration
ahead of the SADC summit, and denied them timely access to essential
medication. This trend of using law enforcement as a tool to suppress political
opposition is a clear violation of constitutional rights. Urgent intervention is
necessary to prevent further abuses and ensure that the police remain impartial
and respectful of citizens' rights.
Mashonaland East
Mashonaland East witnessed a concerning increase in human rights violations,
with 21 cases reported in August, up from 11 in July. The most notable abuses
included the partisan distribution of food aid, coercion to attend ruling party
meetings, and intimidation and harassment. In a particularly egregious incident,
Mr. Chikwana, Chairperson of ZANU PF, and Chief Seke in Seke, compelled
village chiefs to force villagers to contribute USD 1 per household towards
Heroes Day celebrations. Those who refused to donate were blacklisted,
labelled as opposition supporters, and denied access to government drought
relief programs. This coercive tactic affected 60 individuals, including 25 men
and 35 women, who were forced to contribute against their will. The
involvement of traditional chiefs in political affairs is a clear violation of their
constitutional duties and undermines their authority. Their participation in
partisan activities erodes trust and perpetuates human rights abuses,
highlighting the need for urgent intervention to protect the rights of vulnerable
communities.
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