3 Million Voices
#RRRV2023
Mashonaland West
Twenty-one incidents of human rights violations were recorded in Mashonaland West province.
There was significant intimidation, harassment and food and other discrimination and the
violation of the right to personal security.
Traditional leaders in rural communities and Zanu PF activists were the main perpetrators of these
human rights violations.
For example, traditional leaders in Hurungwe reportedly denied MDC Alliance activists access to
government food aid.
As has always been the case, food aid has been used as a political tool by the ruling party, which
uses its influence in government to manipulate the Department of Social Welfare’s food aid
distribution criteria.
In Zvimba South at Kutama Day Care Centre Ward 6, Zanu PF is reportedly on a massive
grassroots restructuring exercise, and its officials Augustine Maburo and Edson Bure, are allegedly
forcing villagers to form cell groups at schools and in the villages.
Bulawayo Metro
The province recorded six cases of human rights violations.
Inter-party conflict between the main opposition, the MDC Alliance and its off-shoot, the MDC-T
has continued following the further recall of some MPs aligned to the MDC Alliance early this
month. While the recall has been overturned by the High Court, the divisions at the political
grassroots level have continued. The infights and the recalls have stalled community development
as constituencies are now operating without leaders and more importantly, this has also affected
policy directions in Parliament.
Mashonaland Central
There were 30 incidents of human rights violations in this province. Politically motivated
intimidation, harassment and discrimination topped the list of violations. In two of the cases,
suspected state security agents were allegedly involved in the attempted abduction of MDC
Alliance activist James Nyama in Muzarabani North at Willis farm ward 21. The incident happened
on 1 April, at around 6pm when Nyama was on his way home. Four men in an unregistered Range
Rover vehicle approached him and offered him a lift home, an offer which he refused. The four
men, who were armed with AK47 rifles then tried to forcibly drag him into the vehicle. Nyama
screamed and this attracted nearby villagers and farmers who came to his rescue as the assailants
drove off. Following the incident Nyama has been receiving anonymous phone calls asking him
why he is campaigning for Nelson Chamisa. The victim is being intimidated and is reportedly
leaving in fear.
Matebeleland South
Zanu PF began the exercise of revisiting most of their cell groups targeting all beneficiaries of
command livestock.
In Gwanda North of Mtshabezi, villagers were told that they should kick start the campaigns and
prepare for the by- elections to be announced soon. This was revealed by Zanu PF activist, Jeffrey
Moyo. He reportedly said that during the by elections, membership shall be drawn from
household lists and the lists supplied by traditional leaders so that they monitor who has failed to
vote for Zanu PF.
In other campaign trails, ZAPU is preparing for its congress in August and tempers are already
high. One recorded incident during the meeting in Kezi, Mzingaye Khumalo threatened to beat
up five ZAPU members during a meeting of identifying who had opposed the rise of aspiring
presidential candidate Sibangilizwe Nkomo one of the surviving sons of Joshua Nkomo.
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