/Summary of Violations
Heal Zimbabwe recorded a total of 15 cases of human rights violations from 10 districts from the 16th – 22th of September 2017. Two recurring categories of human rights violations were recorded, these include intimidation (with threats of violence or threats of withdrawal of food aid or agricultural inputs) and forced participation (in political meetings, financial or material contributions). Intimidation continuously top the list of cases recorded this week with 86.66% (13 cases) and forced attendance to political gatherings recording 13.33% (2 cases). Heal Zimbabwe observed that for the third time in a row, the recorded human rights violations are mainly centred on the, (i) Falsehoods around the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration process country wide and the, (ii) ZANU PF restructuring meetings currently taking place in local communities.
Heal Zimbabwe notes with great concern the continued prevalence of human rights violations linked to intimidation in local communities. With the recent launch of the new Biometric Voter Registration process at 63 centres countrywide, local communities have not been spared of victimisation mainly perpetrated by suspected ZANU PF activists. Cases where suspected opposition supporters were denied proof of residence have been recorded. Local rural communities have mixed feelings over the BVR process due to the intimidation coined around the process. People are being threatened by well-known ZANU PF supporters that the new BVR process allows the ruling party to monitor voting trends thus knowing who would have voted for the opposition. Heal Zimbabwe continuously perceives intimidation as a barrier towards the realisation of peace in Zimbabwe and a stumbling block to the achievement of a democratic society as provided for in the Constitution.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe
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