As the country counts down to the 2018 harmonized election, Heal Zimbabwe has intensified its early warning and early response with special focus on politically volatile areas such as Zvimba, Hurungwe, Mudzi, Bikita and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe. These areas have recorded the highest number of human rights violations with intimidation constituting the majority of cases recorded.
As part of intensifying its early warning and early response mechanism, the organization will:
- Provide daily political environmental updates up to the Election Day.
- Highlight areas that need swift redress from responsible institutions such as the police, ZHRC, ZEC and NPRC for the holding of peaceful and violent free elections and other critical stakeholders
- Facilitate rapid response services to affected people
- Engage political parties on the need to uphold peace and tolerance ahead of elections
Generally, the political environment has been peaceful with minimal recorded incidences of violence.
Violations recorded today
Mberengwa ward 18
On 26 July 2018, Priscilla Nkomo, a ZANU PF youth intimidated community members at Mataga Business centre. Nkomo told people that ZANU PF was going to assault opposition party supporters if it loses the 2018 elections.
Gutu ward 2
On 28 July 2018, ZANU PF member Canisio Matavire threatened community members in the ward with violence saying that if ZANU PF Presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa loses the election, there will be bloodshed.
Chimanimani ward 6
ZANU PF aspiring Councillor, Wonder Mutsengiwa conducted a meeting at Shinja Business centre and announced that community members were supposed to volunteer to be assisted to vote on the day of the election. Mutsengiwa further highlighted that soldiers were going to assault people who will vote for MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa.
Maramba Pfungwe ward 6
On 28 July 2018, ZANU PF ward chairperson Batsirai Muroza conducted a meeting at Saparanyambuya Primary school and announced that community members were going to be assaulted if they do not vote for ZANU PF.
Guruve ward 8
Village head Lee Mhoyera addressed a meeting on 28 July 2018 in Mhoyera village and warned that community members were supposed to vote wisely or risk being assaulted after elections.
Muzarabani ward 24
ZANU PF District chairperson Gilbert Madzingira threatened community members with violence at Chibombo Business centre and highlighted that Village heads were going to accompany people to assist them to vote.
Guruve ward 21
ZANU PF ward chairperson, Earnest Rufayi conducted a meeting at Manovi Farm on 28 July 2018 and highlighted that if people do not vote for ZANU PF, they were going to be assaulted by soldiers. Rufayi further highlighted that ZANU PF youths were going to compile serial numbers of voter registration slips on voting day.
Chinhoyi ward 13
MDC T member Edward Mungava was on 28 July 2018 assaulted by ZANU PF member Ashley Bvunza for distributing MDC Alliance campaign posters. Bvunza told Mungava that it was a crime to distribute opposition party campaign material in the ward.
Hurungwe ward 9
Whilst distributing maize seed for the Presidential input scheme at Chikora ward centre on 28 July 2018, Village Heads David Jaramba and Russel Nyarumwe announced that the seed was only for ZANU PF.
Mt Darwin ward 1
On 28 July 2018, ZANU PF member, Chirigo Kufakunesu threatened an MDC Alliance supporter with assault for being an MDC Alliance polling agent.
Murehwa ward 1
On 27 July 2018, ZANU PF aspiring Councillor, Rosister Zinyangoma distributed maize at Madamombe clinic that had come from the Ministry of Social Welfare to ZANU PF supporters only and denied opposition party supporters who were registered as beneficiaries.
Murehwa ward 5
ZANU PF aspiring Councillor, Shadreck Chimuteka denied opposition party supporters maize that had come from the Ministry of Social Welfare at Zaranyika Primary school on 28 July 2018.
Murehwa ward 10
On 28 July 2018, ZANU PF aspiring Councillor, Charles Chakanyuka distributed maize from the Ministry of Social Welfare to ZANU PF supporters only. The distribution meeting took place at Duku Business centre.
Mutoko ward 12
In Mutoko North ward 12, village heads Pindidzai Ndemera of Ndemera village and Amos Mushamba of Chiundo Village are serving as polling agents at Mutoko ruins and Madziva polling stations respectively.
Gokwe South ward 12
ZANU PF aspiring Councillor, Masara Matevedzana threatened opposition party supporters with violence on 28 July 2018 and highlighted that they will not get any food aid in future.
Gutu ward 16
ZANU PF member, Charity Mhondiwa on 28 July 2018 instructed Village heads in the ward to ensure that people vote in organized groups on Election Day. Mhondiwa further highlighted that on the day of the election, ZANU PF youths will be compiling names of people as they vote.
Muzarabani ward 7
War veteran Ngonidzashe Madzuru on 28 July 2018 addressed a rally at Matange dip tank and warned that if people fail to vote wisely, there would be a repeat of the 2008 violence. ZANU PF Chairperson Conscious Gukuta also addressed the meeting and warned that soldiers were going to be deployed if ZANU PF loses the 2018 elections.
Mazowe ward 9
While addressing a ZANU PF rally in Chiweshe (Mazowe) Ward 9, at Musara Business Centre, Thandiwe Machengo threatened that people who will vote for the MDC will be beaten and have their houses burnt. At another meeting in the same ward, Tarisai Makombera, a ZANU PF member also threatened that people who will vote for the MDC Alliance will be beaten as was the case in 2008 and their houses would be burnt. Makombera was addressing a rally at Kamunhukamwe irrigation scheme where he also distributed farming inputs to ZANU PF members.
Conclusion
Heal Zimbabwe continues to call on political parties to shun violence and adhere to principles set out in the Political Parties code of conduct that criminalizes acts of intimidation and violence. Political parties must also enforce the peace pledge that was facilitated by the NPRC in a bid to promote collective prevention of violence and conflicts as a strategy for promoting lasting peace. Heal Zimbabwe through its national peace campaign dubbed, 13 Million Voices for Peace will continue to campaign rigorously for peace and tolerance ahead of and after the 2018 plebiscite.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe
