April 2019
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
In Chimanimani East, freelance journalist Sydney Saize was assaulted while on
official duty. Saize was investigating an allegation that soldiers were sexually abusing
female Cyclone Idai survivors in exchange for food aid at Chimanimani High School
camp. ZPP understands that Saize arrived at the school and took pictures of the place,
interviewed a few people before members of the military and National Service trained
youths took him. They asked what he was doing, then he presented his journalist
accreditation cards but they refused to recognise him and assaulted him before forcing
him to take aid under camera in order to misrepresent him as a thief. Saize was
detained at Chimanimani Police Station then later released.
Military brutality against civilians is worryingly on a continued upward course as
evidenced by the fact that Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) accounted for 14% of
violators of human rights. One such case occurred in Bindura North in Chiwaridzo.
where two soldiers were murdered by a gang of assailants called “Mashurugwi1”. The
deceased were part of a group of four soldiers who were involved in an altercation
over sex workers. The surviving two then returned with a group of soldiers who
proceeded to conduct a door to door exercise in Chiwaridzo assaulting residents. They
attacked residents in Ward 12 and patrons at a night club watching soccer were not
spared. The army was also involved in a joint effort with the Zimbabwe Republic
Police (ZRP) in evicting villagers in Ward 16 of Gokwe Mapfungautsi constituency
from state owned farms at Sikombela and Chemagora areas and one owned by
Silobela lawmaker Mthokozisi Mayoki Mpofu. Properties such as shops were
damaged while some huts were burnt during the eviction process.
Widespread evictions are still underway in some parts of the country and hundreds
of families have lost valuable property as well as their livelihoods in the process.
Although there is a land audit currently underway, in most instances it is not clear
who is really in the wrong between the evicted and evictee. About 150-200
households were left homeless in Harare South ward 1 at the Dutch Poultry farm in
Waterfalls. It is alleged that farm owner Victor Matepano hired police officers who
demolished homes leaving families stranded. On 22 April villagers from three farms
in Marondera East were evicted without High court orders namely Waterndale Farm,
Chinatsa Farm and Kindle Farm Ward 6. Zanu PF activist Mrs Apolonia Muzerengi is
alleged to be behind the evictions at Waterndale Farm and Chinatsa Farm whilst at
1
Machete wielding gang of artisanal miners hailing from Midlands province
6