Harare
The province witnessed a number of violations that include abductions, assaults, intimidation and discrimination.
Date
HR Violated
Provincial highlights
5 November
Freedom of
Association
Zanu PF youths looted goods and threatened to take over a vending stall owned by one *Moven Chikami at Gazaland
Shopping Center in Highfields West. Chikami, an MDC-T supporter reported the issue to his party superiors who then
sent some party youths to man the vending stall until Chikami felt safe.
18 November
Right to
Personal
Security
Activists Patson Dzamara and Ishmael Kauzani were allegedly abducted by suspected state security agents in plain
clothes. The abduction took place a night before a planned protest by social movement activists against government’s
introduction of bond notes. It is reported that Dzamara was in the company of other activists who fled after the ambush
by the armed men. The two were severely assaulted and sustained serious injuries to the head and back and their cars
were torched. They were found the following morning at Avenues Clinic where they were treated.
Right to
demonstrate
and petition
18 November
Right to
Personal
Security
Right to
demonstrate
and petition
18 November
Right to
demonstrate
and petition
Freedom of
Expression
At around 2am a group of approximately 20 uniformed soldiers assaulted civilians in Kuwadzana East. It is reported that
the army officers patrolled nightclubs and shops around Kuwadzana 2 beating up civilians. They first went to Sunset
Nightclub where they beat up people using baton sticks and bare hands before proceeding to K2 Nightclub. At K2
Nightclub they assaulted vendors outside the bar before proceeding to attack patrons inside the club. It is believed that
their motive was to intimidate people from participating in the anti-bond notes protest that had been planned by social
movement activists.
There was heavy police presence in the Harare Central Business District on the morning earmarked for a demonstration
against the introduction of bond notes, a surrogate currency set to ease the cash crisis. The demonstration had been
planned by social movement activists and was dubbed ‘Munhu Wese muRoad’. However, due to intimidation and heavy
police presence following violence in previous protests members of the public failed to convene and start the
demonstration.
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