Instances of politically motivated violence are on the rise as Zimbabwe counts down to the 2018 harmonised elections. Heal Zimbabwe in a daily publication has received alarming reports from the politically volatile areas such as Zvimba, Mudzi, Bikita and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe. These areas have recorded the highest number of human rights violations with intimidation constituting the majority of violations recorded.
Heal Zimbabwe is a Non-governmental Organisation focusing on rebuilding national cohesion through tolerance and peaceful co-existence in local communities. In a statement, Heal Zimbabwe said cases of politically motivated violence and human rights violations are:
Chikomba ward 18– George Chaurwa had his house burnt by unknown assailants on 25 July 2018 at 02:19am. Before the arson attack, Chaurwa received a tip-off that there was a plan to burn his house. The matter was reported at Chivhu police station and no arrests have been made.
Hurungwe ward 9– On the 25th of July 2018, Japhet Kazangarare (a war veteran), Jackie Zvokunye, ZANU PF District chairperson and ZANU PF member, Oliver Sikanda threatened community members with violence at Kazangarare Business centre. The three announced that ZANU PF was going to unleash violence in the event that it loses the 2018 elections.
The Heal Zimbabwe publication is available on-line with myriad cases of such reports updated on a daily basis.
According to a study by think-tank Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) report that looked at electoral violence in Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa from the years 1998 to 2018, and the outcome was that although the neighbouring countries shared the same history of the liberation struggle, Zimbabwe was the most violent, with most of the violence aimed at civilians by political militia, and 46% of violence occurred during elections.
“The majority of perpetrators in the violence in Zimbabwe are non-state actors (51,2%), and supporters of Zanu-PF, as well as war veterans”, the RAU report said.
Peace and Conflict expert Mr Lizwe Sibanda questioned if they tangible changes in the new dispensation. It’s a norm that elections are marred with violence, threats, intimidation in Zimbabwe. The rural community is still vulnerable to these violent antics due to remoteness of some areas”, said Sibanda.
