|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Victims violence after March 29 elections
Background
FOLLOWING the 2008 harmonized elections, which were held on the 29th of March, Zimbabwe has been characterized with protracted and intensive violence being perpetrated by the ruling ZANU PF regime that lost the majority of seats in the House of Assembly and Senate to MDC. After elections Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC a ZANU PF directly controlled election monitoring board only announced House of Assembly and Senatorial results at the same time with holding the Presidential results.
Apart from denying Zimbabwe their right to know a leader of their own choice and over stretching the patience of Zimbabwe the ruling regime has embarked on a “witch hunting mission” on all MDC sympathizers and in an operation, which has been dubbed “Operation Makavhotera Papi”, translated to “Operation Who Did You vote For.” The regime is using repressive state apparatus to brutalize and intimidate the electorate with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe National Army at the helm of the operation.
As students at various universities in Zimbabwe we are greatly concerned about this severe erosion of human rights and the rule of law, which has left the electorate defenseless. We are calling upon members of he international community to intervene and help the Zimbabwe in any form of humanitarian aid you can offer.
It is therefore the aim of this report to expose the nature of violence and intimidation, which is wide spread in Zimbabwe and what other stakeholders are doing to alleviate the over, stretched populace of Zimbabwe.
Details and nature of violence
The ZRP and the security forces are scattered all over the country in a hunt for those suspected to have voted for MDC Tsvangirai and the MDC sympathizers in the 2008 harmonized elections. The police and the security forces are failing to protect opposition supporters, who are being brutalized and intimidated. Some victims are being robbed of their wealth and possessions and many are in tears.
Some victims are being caught in a double tragedy, thus after a massive cruelty their homes will be set on fire. Malvin Moyo (not his real name) told his local newspaper that he woke up one morning to find nothing in his cattle kraal, and all his goats were dead. The following day during the night again all his huts were set on fire by the anon people. This followed a warning from some other people who have heard the rumors, in Bikita West similar cases are on an increase, many are left homeless and some are losing their lives.
A freelance journalist and registered media student of the University of Witswaterrand, Stanley Karombo was on 18 April 2008 arrested at Gwanzura Stadium while taking notes during Zimbabwe 28th Independence celebrations. The police contemplated charging Karombo for contravening the Access to Information And Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). However he was released after 3 days of tortured and was forced to pay Z$14 000 000 admission of guilty fine.
In a related issue Zimbabwe police are detaining at least 75 opposition supporters for offences linked to a strike last week to force the release of results from last month’s presidential poll. Some were literally abducted from their homes about 60 of these are being charged of attempted murder, disorderly conduct and malicious damage to property. Many of these victims are required to get medical treatment but the police are not releasing them. Concurrently Zimbabwe is encountering a high death rate because many people are not allowed to get treatment from government clinics and general hospitals.
In urban areas workers are now resorting to hiking instead of boarding commuter omnibuses the reason being fear of police’ s cruelty and violence on bus terminuses. Concurrently this is of no help because they will reach their places of residence late during the night cause of transport problems and delays, this to the police will be declared as loitering and they (people) subjected to torture.
In health centers the MDC sympathizers are being denied to get treatment by the security forces and police, it seems as if the police and security forces are now in control over anything in Zimbabwe. Even on the government transport they are the ones who determine who gets the service and vice versa.
However, ANC and other neighboring countries are condemning the violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe. The ANC member and SACP leader Blade Nzimande said “the Zanu Pf government had lost the values that guided freedom fighters in Zimbabwe and South Africa for many years and ANC members must learn from the Zimbabwean experience and hold dear those values if they were to avoid the same thing happening in South Africa.”
Moreover teachers are being victimized as they have been previously associated with the MDC. Several of them have flee their homesteads if fear of torture.
Problems in summary
Ø People have been left homeless as some houses have been burnt, leaving them without food, shelter, and clothes
Ø There is shortage of medicine to cure the sores, fractures and dislocations
Ø Shortage of money for transport fares coupled with acute shortages of fuels
Ø There are no legal resources in form of lawyers to represent them in court.
Ø There are no mediums for information dissemination e.g. radios, televisions and cell phones.
Ø There is no security for the MDC sympathizers.
The following table shows the number of victims or casualties
Ø About nine members have died
Ø 500 have been hospitalized
Ø 3000 families had been displaced since elections were held three and half weeks ago
Civic Organisation and other Stakeholders input
As Zimbabwe is going through one of the worst political chapters since 1980 various CSO have joined hand to help the victims through a large margin is still left to cushion the victims of violence.
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has been helping with bus fares for its affected members to seek medication and food for some who have fled their places especially in Mutoko, Mashonaland West and Masvingo where NCA activists have sought refuge from their provincial leaders.
Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe and MISA Zimbabwe have been helping disseminating information of courage and by disseminating a consignment of solar power radio have been disseminated to rural areas making people have access to Studio 7 and other informed radio stations.
Counseling Services Unit has been offering medical facilities for the affected victims for free. However transport problems still remains a problem.
Recommendations
We therefore call upon for the international community to provide aid among other things the following:
We also want the international community to put pressure on ZEC to release results as soon as possible. Moreover we believe strong condemnation of such humanitarian abuse can make the regime realize its gross iniquities.
Conclusion
The level of violence and brutality in Zimbabwe has worsened the economic situation amid inflation which is above 160 000 percent, thereby creating a humanitarian crisis.
We therefore call upon the members of the international community to intervene and help Zimbabwe out of its predicaments. As students in Zimbabwe we will not rest until human rights and the rule of law are being observed and valued in Zimbabwe.
Acknowledgements
Crisis Coalition
MISA Zimbabwe
NCA Zimbabwe
Anotida Magagana and Credence Sithole, Midlands State University media students who are currently attached to the National Constitutional Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, compiled this project.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© Copyright The Zimbabwe Times