Political violence in Zimbabwe up to May 19, 2000 - Discussion of interview May 11-19, 2000

The Unleashing of Violence:
A report on violence in Zimbabwe
update for the week ending May 19, 2000

Contents Ť ť

A Discussion of the Interviews from 11-19 May
General comments
The violence monitoring project has so far interviewed 21 victims of political violence. None of these were from commercial farms, although it is clear that farm workers have been among the worst affected by political violence and gathering their statements will be an important objective of the project. Supporters of United Parties (UP), Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD) and Zanu (PF) have also been victims of political violence and the project has begun research and interviews into some of these cases, which will be included in future reports. This week’s update, however, focuses on the massive intimidation and brutality that has been directed at the active members of MDC, both in town and the countryside. All of those interviewed were targeted because of membership, or suspicion of links to the MDC. Several of those interviewed in the past week came from Harare, as well as some from Murehwa, Shamva, Bindura, Mberengwa and one from Wedza. The project has also been collecting reports of assaults and killings from several sources as well as press reports on political violence.

It must be emphasised that the interviews taken are merely a small random sample but they indicate that violence is now an endemic problem in rural areas and is beginning to affect some urban residents. They also provide further substance to the claim that there is a central authority directing the violence. They show consistencies of method, language and operation of the attackers in different parts of the country which appear to be beyond coincidence. While the victims all identified their attackers as supporters of Zanu (PF), including ex-combatants - sometimes because of their T-shirts - they often did not recognise them as local residents. In the words of one witness, the troublemakers are being "imported". A number of victims accused Zanu (PF) representatives, including parliamentary candidates of instigating or sponsoring the violence. Frequently there was either suspicion or evidence of CIO involvement in the assault.

Groups which seem to be led by "war-veterans" have established makeshift camps, often in public buildings, Zanu (PF) or ZexCom offices (the offices of the war veterans) or are operating from bases in nearby farms. There are reports that in general these camps are where Zanu (PF) supporters sleep, eat and drink. They send out raiding parties from their base to hunt down opposition members, sometimes bringing them back to administer beatings and torture. These groups are functioning as a militia, which many allege are being paid for intimidating, beating and even killing MDC supporters at standard rates.

In Mashonaland East, the ZexCom offices at Murehwa growth point is a known torture house, Chipesa Farm in Marondera is also a centre for the planning and implementation of violence. In Mashonaland Central, a building belonging to a Zanu (PF) member in Mount Darwin has been occupied by Zanu (PF) youths who are said to be under the command of local CIO officials. The army came in and broke up the unit which had been responsible for widespread violence in the surrounding villages several weeks ago, but there are now reports that the youths have moved back in. In Karoi, the Zanu (PF) offices in the high-density suburb of Chikangwe are being used to house a militia who chant slogans and sing all night, bringing opposition members for beating there. In front of the offices is a small improvised grave which has written on it: "Rest in peace, Morgan Tsvangirai." Another camp has been established at the Magunje growth point, behind the shop of the parliamentary candidate, Mark Madiro. Other Zanu (PF) parliamentary candidates who have been accused repeatedly of harbouring the attackers or providing transport for them include Gladys Hokoyo of Budiriro, Harare; Sabina Thembani of Mufakose, Harare; Nicholas Goche of Shamva, Mashonaland Central. Saviour Kasukuwere the parliamentary candidate for Mount Darwin has been accused of directly assaulting MDC supporters.

It is worth noting that the violence broke out simultaneously in several areas. Most people date the first attacks in their area date from around 13 April, although the assaults in Harare are more recent. The attackers regularly demand that MDC members surrender their T-shirts and party cards; that they name other MDC supporters in the area; and that they publicly renounce their MDC membership and join Zanu (PF). In several instances they have threatened to "cut off the head" of an MDC member. Weapons commonly being used include sjamboks, axes, knobkerries, rubber truncheons and sticks. There are increasing reports of guns being used, mostly AK 47s and 303 rifles. Petrol bombs are being thrown at cars, property and people. Torture techniques involve beatings with electric cables, beatings on the soles of the feet, tying of the penis and electric shocks.

The police have taken little or no action to protect MDC supporters in the majority of cases, although MDC supporters have reported some of these incidents to them. Although some MDC members interviewed admit involvement in fights with Zanu (PF) members, the statements gathered should help to dispel the myth perpetuated in the state media that MDC supporters are causing most of the violence. TOP