3.0
RRRV2023|Provincial Highlights
ZIMBABWE PEACE PROJECT MONTHLY MONITORING REPORT
AUGUST 2021
In Marondera and Mutoko commercial sex workers operating after
the curfew time accused male police officers of asking for bribes and
in some cases, the police officers allegedly demanding sexual favours
from the commercial sex workers in return for freedom.
Mashonaland East
In Mashonaland East, ZPP recorded mostly cases of intimidation,
harassment, unlawful arrests and extortion. Murehwa and Mudzi had
numerous cases of intimidation and in most cases Zanu PF aligned
persons were behind these violations.
In Marondera and Mutoko commercial sex workers operating after
the curfew time accused male police officers of asking for bribes
and in some cases, the police officers allegedly demanding sexual
favours from the commercial sex workers in return for freedom.
Meanwhile, citizens pin-pointed Zanu PF aligned traditional leaders
and Zanu PF activists (Ward Councillors and Ward Chairpersons) for
violating citizens’ freedom of association as they forced villagers to
be part of Zanu PF party processes.
On 22 August close to 30 villagers were forced to convene at
Nyamuyaruka Business Centre Ward 10 in Mudzi North. It is alleged
that, Zanu PF activists Portia Chijaka and John Sarafunga forced
villagers to convene before forcing them to contribute money to
assist local war veterans and war collaborators. Villagers with no
cash were told that they could support the process through
providing maize grain and ground nuts. It was also reported that
during the meeting villagers were forced to chant Zanu PF slogans
and sing revolutionary songs.
In Murehwa, vendors were told that only Zanu PF supporters would
be allowed to sell their wares at the Murehwa vegetable market.
Mashonaland West
As the country prepares for elections, artisanal mining syndicates
are slowly realigning themselves to the ruling Zanu PF. The
realigning exercise is for artisanal miners to use terror under the
guise that they belong to the ruling Zanu PF.
In Chegutu an artisanal miner clad in Zanu PF regalia terrorized
citizens while in Muzvezve, artisanal miners are now digging some
of their tunnels in residential areas, risking the lives of ordinary
citizens, whose houses may collapse.
ZPP has observed that in some parts of the area, newly built houses
are developing cracks, and yet the activities of the artisanal miners
continue simply because some of them have political protection
from Zanu PF, and they are a strategic tool for coercion as
campaigns heat up.
A Zanu PF aligned artisanal mining syndicate led by Denboy
Makombe is reported to be harassing, intimidating and assaulting
villagers in Chegutu West at Muchakata Gold mill Pick-stone and
they use dangerous weapons such as knives, machetes and
knobkerries.
Image: Reuters