Who is responsible?
A preliminary analysis of pre-election violence
in Zimbabwe
June 20, 2000

Mashonaland East
Violence against Health Workers and Teachers
In May alone there were several incidents of violence against health workers. In Murewa two nurses were abducted by a group of men. In Mudzi and Murehwa health workers were threatened and demands were made for payments to guarantee their safety. They were also ordered not to treat injured opposition supporters and told not to report these threats. Chimukoko Hospital in Mudzi was forcibly closed and a nurse was assaulted. Zanu (PF) supporters also raided Nyadiri hospital and threatened health workers. There were later unconfirmed reports of assault and the rape of nurses at the hospital. Health workers were warned not to treat MDC members who have been injured by Zanu (PF) supporters. In Wedza hospital staff refused treatment to people beaten up by Zanu (PF) youths on the grounds that they had been instructed by a local war veteran leader not to treat such persons.

With regard to teachers, the worst affected area was Mudzi where Zanu (PF) supporters severely assaulted nearly all the teaching staff at Chimukoko primary and secondary schools. The war veterans forced the closure of Chimukoko Clinic so injured teachers would not receive treatment. There had also been attacks on staff at Mnamba Primary School, Dombodzvuku Primary and Secondary Schools, Chemhondoro Primary and Secondary Schools and Nyamazera Primary School. A regional education officers reported that teachers were being harassed and threatened and many had fled from their schools in Mudzi, Mutoko and Murehwa.  TOP