Party activists contributed 40% to human rights violations: report

Promise Mkwanazi, spokesperson for the Citizens’ Coalition for Change

Political party activists contributed 40% of human rights violations reported by members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) community between July and September 2024, a new report from the organization reveals .

ZimRights said the most common violations recorded were restrictions on access to social services and unfair distribution of resources, often manipulated for political purposes.

The report also highlights how political party activists, mainly Zanu PF, frequently manipulated and denied food aid, water and other essential services to people perceived to be opposition supporters.

Statistics gleaned by NewsDay reveal that in some rural areas like Mazowe and Chivi, communities found themselves cut off from essential resources unless they demonstrated political loyalty.

The report said villagers were forced to attend political party meetings or buy party membership cards in exchange for food or access to water, with threats of punishment if they did so. non-compliance. One situation, the report concludes, created an atmosphere of fear, leaving individuals vulnerable. with no choice but to comply.

The violations, which included denial of access to social services, politically motivated violence and forced displacement, were concentrated in key provinces such as Harare, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central.

“The number of violations we are seeing is unprecedented. What is most concerning is the extent of political manipulation of basic services, where access to food, water and health care is used as a tool to punish certain people who have made constitutionally protected choices,” said ZimRights country director Dzikamai Bere.

“This is a violation of Zimbabwe’s Constitution and international human rights standards, and urgent action is needed to address these abuses. »

In addition to the manipulation of food aid, some of the major violations included intimidation and assault.

Citizens’ Coalition for Change spokesperson Promise Mkwanazi yesterday accused the ruling Zanu PF party of carrying out human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

“The main problem is that the alternative led by lawyer Nelson Chamisa has been systematically targeted and persecuted in an attempt to decimate its base,” he said.

“All leaders aligned with President Chamisa are targeted and are not spared from persecution and prosecution. This report reflects this targeted violation of the alternative.

Zanu PF information director Farai Marapira yesterday dismissed the ZimRights report, saying the ruling party did not recognize their writings and findings.

“As Zanu-PF, we have never accepted any serious releases from ZimRights because they are politically motivated and agenda driven.

“So commenting on articles and so-called findings whose veracity is neither here nor there is a waste of time. As usual, we do not take note of their comments or their conclusions,” he said.

In Guruve, on July 12 this year, Zanu PF activists reportedly forced villagers to join party cells by threatening them with violence, while in Mazowe, on August 4, activists staged rallies to promote the extension of the mandate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa beyond the constitutional five years. term limit, with threats of violence against those who refused to attend.

Local councils have also been the main perpetrators, accounting for 30% of recorded violations, and in urban centers such as Chitungwiza and Harare, councils have been involved in restricting access to clean water and incapacitating to provide adequate sanitation services, further compounding the challenges faced by communities. .

Chitungwiza Municipality has since declared the town “dry” following the decommissioning of the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant due to depleting water levels at Seke and Harava dams, while In Harare, many parts of the city remain without running water for months.

State security forces, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police and intelligence agencies, are responsible for 15% of violations, with wrongful arrests accounting for 15% of the total violations recorded.

According to the report, arrests often took place without due process and those detained were subjected to torture and degrading treatment.

The report indicates that these forces were involved in unjustified arrests, assaults and torture, often targeting political activists and human rights defenders, before, during and after the preparation of the 44th session of the Summit heads of state and government of the Sadc organized by Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe. August this year.

“These arrests constitute a violation of the right to freedom of assembly and expression, which is protected by the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Bere said.

Displacement was another significant issue identified, with 20% of recorded incidents involving forced displacement of individuals or communities.

In Hurungwe, on July 5, villagers were displaced to make way for a Chinese cement factory, without any consultation with the local council.

ZimRights, in its recommendations, called for urgent action to address the situation and made several recommendations, including the establishment of independent investigative bodies to investigate human rights violations and seek accounts to the authors.

The movement also called for the depoliticization of social services, ensuring that access to essential services is based on need and not political affiliation.