Contents «
Prev Next »
Annexes:
Case Studies
Section E - Intimidation
of witnesses in constituency challenges
These are mostly reports
received by the Human Rights Forum.
Chiredzi
- K.M., aged 32,
an assistant welder and MDC organizing secretary, was assaulted on 22
February 2001 at Chiredzi. He was assaulted with whips by a group of
ZANU (PF) youths led by war veteran, Boniface Mutemachani. He received
serious injuries and bruises all over his body. His assailants accused
him of being "a key witness against their party". He was further attacked
with a pick handle on his left shin. K.M. identified one assailant,
Farai Kahlamba, as the instigator of the assault. K.M. was left for
dead, and could not walk to find help. He suffered a severe bone fracture,
and received treatment at Dr Mungwazi’s surgery. The matter was reported
to the police but no arrests have been made in the matter.
- A group of about
ZANU (PF) youths led by a war veteran leaders based at Chiredzi attacked
the house of Kenneth Mwinga in Tshovani Township in Chiredzi North.
They broke a door and windows as a reprisal for Mwinga’s testimony in
the Chiredzi North election petition at the High Court. Mwinga was not
hurt as he was not at home at the time. They accused him of testifying
against their party in an MDC election petition. Mwinga had been testifying
in case in High Court in Harare challenging the result of Chiredzi North
constituency. In court Mwinga said that after he had agreed to testify
he had been beaten up by the war vet leader that had subsequently attacked
his house and his leg had been broken.
(Source: Daily News 5 April 2001.)
Buhera North
- In Murambinda in
Buhera North, E.G. received death threats from his former employer,
Kainos "Kasiyatota" Zimunya. Zimunya was the election agent of Kenneth
Manyonda, the ZANU (PF) candidate. E.G. was told that if he divulged
information to anyone regarding Kainos Zimunya’s role in the murder
of Tichaona Chiminya and Talent Mabika, both MDC campaign officials,
he would be killed. Recently, Zimunya was subpoenaed to testify in the
election petition, but failed to appear before the High Court.
Hurungwe (Karoi)
- In Hurungwe in
the Karoi area N.M., aged 23, who had been previously assaulted
during the run-up to the June 2000 parliamentary elections by a group
of ZANU (PF) supporters, was again attacked by ZANU (PF) supporters
on 16 February 2001. He was able to identify some of his attackers as:
Rex Jesus, Richman, Doubt Nyika, Kenneth Ngwazi, Innocent Dwani and
Shame Karichi. He suffered injuries all over his body. When he returned
to Hurungwe after testifying before the High Court, a group of ZANU
(PF) supporters confronted him asking him why he had gone to the High
Court. They accused him of sympathizing with the MDC. They came to his
house on a daily basis and threatened him and his family. The matter
was reported to the Z.R.P. in Karoi but the police told him that no
assistance would be rendered to MDC supporters. N.M. reported the matter
three more times but no action was ever taken. N.M. was forced to leave
his home because of the fear of further victimization and has spent
the last week sleeping at a friend’s place.
- In Hurungwe
D.P. aged 29 was assaulted on 16 February 2001. Upon returning home
after giving testimony before the High Court, a group of ZANU (PF) supporters
threatened him with violence, but were restrained by their leaders.
They tried to break into his home at midnight. They threatened him,
sang songs and shouted.
- In Hurungwe
on 20 February 2001, the ZANU (PF) supporters returned, followed him,
and wanted to kidnap his friend. However, the police arrived before
anything could happen. He could not identify the attackers. He was forced
to leave his home, because of the fear of victimization. The matter
was reported to Z.R.P. of Karoi, but no action was taken.
- T.T. aged
30, was forced to flee Hurungwe before the elections because of threats.
When he returned from testifying before the High Court on 19 February
2001, ZANU (PF) members confronted him in a local hotel and threatened
him with death. They threatened to burn down his house, whilst singing
slogans and songs. He managed to escape. He reported the matter to the
ZRP in Karoi. However, the ZRP told him that no action would be taken
because it was a "political case." He no longer lives at home, because
of fear of victimization.
- In Hurungwe P.C.,
aged 38, was chased by ZANU (PF) supporters on 15 February 2001
for his allegiance to the MDC, after testifying before the High Court
in the election challenges. He reported the matter to the ZRP in Karoi
on 17 February 2001.
- In Hurungwe D.C.,
aged 31, was harassed and intimidated by ZANU (PF) supporters on
his return home on 22 February 2001 after testifying in the Harare High
Court
- Richard Chadya,
MDC candidate for Hurungwe East during the 2000 parliamentary elections
who last week successfully challenged Zanu (PF) Reuben Marumahoko’s
victory in the High Court last week had part of his homestead and a
grain storage burnt to ashes by suspected ZANU (PF) supporters who were
apparently incensed by the court decision. Property worth over $40 000
was destroyed when the thugs burnt down two thatched houses and a maize
storage area on Saturday night at around 11.00 p.m. While Chadya was
the candidate for Hurungwe East, his homestead is in Hurungwe West in
the Boniface Area. Fortunately no one was injured in the attack, as
there was no one in the burnt down houses. However it was clear that
the arsonists had the intention of causing injury. Chadya was away from
home at time of the attack. Chadya said: "This is just a desperate move
by the ZANU (PF) government as it attempts to stall the process of change
that will usher in a better life for people in Zimbabwe. All the ZANU
(PF) government can do is destroy. People have to realise that they
have the power in their hands to bring about complete change to the
terror and hunger under this dictatorship."
Chinhoyi
- In Chinhoyi
members of the CIO threatened N.M. and P.K., both election agents for
Silas Matamisa, the MDC candidate for Chinhoyi, with death. After they
had written affidavits supporting Matamisa, they were assaulted and
received death threats from CIO agents. N.M. subsequently wrote an affidavit
supporting Chiyangwa, the ZANU (PF) MP for Chinhoyi, as a result of
the threats.
(Source: Daily News 15 February 2001).
- On 9 March 2001
S.P. (aged 23) was assaulted with knobkerries, booted feet, and clenched
fists at the Karoi terminus by a group of about 15 ZANU (PF) youths
and war veterans. They accused him of distributing MDC material and
encouraging others to testify at the High Court in the election challenges.
They also harassed him and stated that they were not afraid of the police
and that he should leave Karoi. He suffered multiple injuries on his
sides and his head. He received no medical treatment from the hospital
because he left his hospital cards at home. He fled his home due to
fear of continuous intimidation and victimisation.
Kariba
Luka Sigobele,
MDC candidate for Kariba withdrew petition challenging election result
because he feared for his life after receiving death threats. In his
petition he cited political violence as the main reason why he lost.
He said his mother and other family members and himself were receiving
threats from people he refused to disclose to the press. "My mother
is continuously receiving calls from strangers demanding to know my
whereabouts. My movements were closely monitored by people whom I can’t
name, because they might come and pick me up." He hurriedly moved out
of a relative’s house in Karoi after the relative started receiving
threatening calls. "I did it for the safety of our party members because
people were going to be harassed or even killed."
(Source: Daily News 2 April 2001.)
Chikomba
- J.G., (aged
29), an MDC secretary at the district level in Sadza, was intimidated
and victimized by the police on 17 March, 2001 when he returned from
the election challenge hearings at the High Court. The police tried
to abduct him, but he resisted and managed to flee the area. He suffered
injuries on the back, abdomen, left ear and right cheek. The police
are searching for him and other persons who have testified or will testify
in the election petition hearings.
- P.Z., (aged 25),
living in Chivhu, was abducted from his house while he was taking a
bath. He was assaulted and detained on 10 March 2001 in the Sadza Police
Station by ZRP. P.Z. was able to identify Constable Mhukayesango and
Action Mugadza as two of his assailants. P.Z. was a witness in the election
challenges before the High Court and when he returned from Harare, Inspector
Majora confronted him, started shouting at him and threatened him with
death. His attackers dragged him about 150 meters to the police station.
He was forced to bite the front of a pistol and cold water was poured
over him several times. His attackers hit him with open hands, sticks
and a plank on his ears, cheek, wrist and back. He suffered multiple
injuries. The following day the police threatened to shoot him and refused
to give him a referral letter to receive medical care in the hospital.
A week later, ZANU (PF) supporters removed property from his house.
He was told never to come back to Chikomba.
- P.C., living in
Sadza, is the district MDC chairman in Chikomba. The officer in charge
of the Sadza Police Station confronted him when he returned from testifying
at the High Court in Harare. He was threatened with assault and abduction.
A ZANU (PF) vehicle was parked in front of his gate twice. He fled the
area on 26 March 2001out of fear of being victimized again.
- J.M. (aged
25) was threatened with assault by five ZANU (PF) youths on 21 March
2001, after she returned to Matove from testifying in the election petitions.
Her assailants came to her home twice, once in the morning and again,
in the evening armed with sticks. They demanded to know why she had
gone to Harare. She managed to escape first to Sadza Growth Point and
then to Harare.
- Mr Hondora is representing
the MDC candidate for Chikomba, who is contesting the election result.
On 7 April 2001 Mr Hondora travelled to Chikomba, together with two
other lawyers, Mr Shumba and Mr Mupanga, to investigate allegations
of intimidation and assault directed at witnesses in the election challenge.
Hondora was assaulted and the two other lawyers were threatened.
In a letter
to the Commissioner of Police Hondora stated that members of ZANU (PF)
assaulted him while police watched. The other two lawyers managed to
escape but were threatened with assault when they arrived at the local
Sadza Police Station to make a complaint. They arrived at Sadza Growth
Point and soon noticed a crowd wearing ZANU (PF) T-shirts and army attire
assembling in the area. Mr Shumba went for the car in case violence
occurred while the other two stayed behind to witness the rally. The
crowd soon started chasing after one of Mr Hondora’s witnesses, Nelson
Chivanga. The assailants were armed with stones, axes, knobkerries and
other weapons. At this point the crowd turned on the three men saying
that they were outsiders and calling them "sellouts" and "stooges of
the white man". Mr Hondora was caught and beaten. Mr Shumba managed
to escape and was hidden by a resident of a nearby homestead. Mr Mupanga
managed to drive away to safety. At the time that Mr Hondora was caught,
Mr Chivanga was already being severely beaten. Mr Hondora was hit, kicked,
slapped and whipped. He sustained bruises to his head, a broken jaw,
a bloody nose, a cut lip, lacerations and his molars have been weakened
which caused him difficulty in consuming solid food for days afterwards.
In addition his glasses were broken and his clothes were torn from the
attack. Mr Shumba and Mr Mupanga went to the police station to make
a complaint and discovered that Mr Hondora was already there with Mr
Chivanga. Mr Hondora andMr Chivanga asked to be taken to a medical clinic
but their request was refused. While in detention they were beaten further,
searched and interrogated as to their affiliation with the MDC. Mr Hondora
alleges that Constable Cuthbert Mapfumo held him while he was being
assaulted and that Constable Moses Zhakata participated in the assaults.
Also present were Constable Mafandizvo, Constable Masaringo and Constable
Nikisi. Assistant Inspector Majora ordered all police officers present
to be armed with rifles and live ammunition. The rifles were pointed
at the four men. In addition the men produced documents that identified
them as officers of the court but these documents were swept to the
floor and ignored. Majora took Mr Shumba and Mr Mupanga into an adjacent
room and lectured them on his view of the MDC. He asked how, as educated
men, they could be used by white people. In addition he had their car
searched and threatened to call war veteran leader Chenjerai Hunzvi,
other war veterans and the army to ‘discipline’ them. After these incidents,
which took about three hours, the men were released. The three men made
a report to the police in Harare when they returned. The Sadza Police
Station was phoned for information but officials there denied any such
event took place. Mr Hondora is contemplating legal action against the
police and individual police officers involved in the attack
Makoni
- Mrs Erica Nyaunde,
a witness in the Makoni East election petition, told the High Court
that she was the victim of harassment stemming from her willingness
to testify in the case. She stated that on 17 April 2001, three men
followed her into a phone shop. One man, who she could identify only
as "Douglas", was wearing a ZANU (PF) T-shirt. Mrs Nyaunde had gone
to the phone shop to make a call about a cheque she was trying to cash.
Douglas produced handcuffs and told her that she would "cash her cheque
at the cemetery". The men also said, "you gave us problems and your
name is among 68 going to the High Court". The men dispersed after the
proprietor of the shop called police. A policeman then escorted Mrs
Nyaunde to a terminus.
- In Makoni West
F.M., (female aged 58), former MDC secretary of Makoni West was
assaulted with sticks and knobkerries by a group of ZANU (PF) supporters
transported from Rusape town. She suffered injuries on the back and
the right knee, which forced her to leave her post in the MDC. On 18
March 2001 her attackers returned and alleged that she was forcing witnesses
to testify in the High Court election challenges against Defence Minister
Moven Mahachi. She managed to escape and fled to Harare, for fear of
further victimization.
- In Makoni
West (Rusape) R.C., (female aged 41) an MDC Chairperson, is the MDC
information and publicity secretary for Makoni West district. She was
assaulted with sticks and knobkerries in Nyakonda by supporters of ZANU
(PF). They were allegedly sent by Mhiripiri who was based in Rusape.
One assailant could be identified as Munyaradzi. She suffered multiple
injuries on left eye, chin, left wrist, left lower leg and right ankle.
She still experiences severe headaches because of the beatings. On 18
March 2001 a group of ZANU (PF) supporters came to her house from Sabhuku
Tandi and ordered her to tell them the names of the witnesses in the
election petition cases. She refused and was then tripped, causing the
dislocation of her right ankle. She fled to Harare immediately. She
did not report the matter to the ZRP because she felt that they would
not take any action.
Mount Darwin
- Godfrey Mumbamharwo,
MDC candidate for Mount Darwin South in the 2000 parliamentary elections,
who is also a former organising secretary for Mashonaland Central was
on the same day, severely assaulted at his home in Chiwaridzo Township
in Bindura at about 10.00 p.m. for the sole "crime" of being an MDC
activist. A group of ZANU (PF) supporters wielding iron bars and logs
pounded Mumbamarwo who suffered suspected broken ribs and severe head
injuries. All the furniture in the house was destroyed. After he had
been taken to hospital, the ZANU (PF) thugs followed him there vowing
to finish him off. His family has since transferred him to a Harare
hospital. Several assailants were identified. These are Kanosvamhira,
a ZANU (PF) councillor in the town, Dickson Mafios a ZANU (PF) Provincial
Youth chairman and one Trust Katsiga. While the matter was reported
to the police, no action has yet been taken in apprehending the culprits.
TOP
|