Resist, Reject and Report Violence, #RRRV2023
Mashonaland West
Mashonaland West Province was a hostile area for opposition activism during the month of February.
The targeting of opposition supporters continued unabated. Human rights abuses and political
violence escalated to worrisome levels. A strong desire to perpetrate violence by the new and various
Zanu PF affiliate groups grew in most rural Mashonaland West communities. On 27 February a violent
clash between ZRP police and Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) members was reported.
The Zanu PF members wanted to demonstrate against the arrest of Mushika-shika operators and the
conduct of the police towards vendors. To contain the demonstration, the police used a heavy hand
and assaulted the Zanu PF demonstrators. Five DCC members sustained serious injuries. Zanu PF
DCC members wanted to protect and safeguard their political interests in Kadoma urban by
becoming the voice of the vendors and illegal Mushika Shika operators however, they became
victims of police brutality. The constitution provides for the right to demonstrate and petition
according to section 59 of the Constitution.
Bulawayo
The province witnessed a spate of human right violations between the Bulawayo City Council (BCC)
and the ‘illegal’ vendors selling from undesignated sites. In the early hours of 23 February, the local
authority through its Bulawayo Municipality Police embarked on a blitz to drive out an influx of
undesignated vendors operating in the city. It is said that the blitz was met with resistance as the
said illegal vendors retaliated and refusing to vacate the area. Bulawayo Municipal Police fired rubber
bullets as defence which resulted in the injury of Prosper Munemo, and Concilia Dube. Thabani Nyoni
sustained injuries in a stampede. Furthermore, Zanu PF took advantage of the situation through its
Youth Leader Nehanda district, Josiah who later instructed vendors to return to their ‘illegal’
operation sites. This was only on condition that those that return to their illegal sites join Zanu PF
and participate fully in any party activity.
February 2023
The Zimbabwe Peace Project Monthly Monitoring Report
20