POLITICAL VIOLENCE REPORT AUGUST 2004

Incidents that occurred in Zimbabwe in August show a lack of commitment by the Government of Zimbabwe to the implementation of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. Intra-party violence between members of ZANU PF which resulted in high levels of politically motivated violence taking place in Makoni North (Manicaland Province) between 21 and 22 August 2004 evidenced the continuing absence of “freedom of association and political tolerance”[1]. This equally applies to events in Epworth (Hatfield constituency, Harare Province) where MDC members were victimized for distributing flyers with a clash between MDC and ZANU PF youths ensuing. In Makoni North constituency (Manicaland Province) Didymus Mutasa, ZANU PF MP for Makoni North and Minister of Special Affairs in the President’s Office Responsible for the Anti-corruption and Anti Monopolies Programme, was allegedly involved in or the instigator of several incidents of assault and destruction of property. Youths who support Minister Mutasa were reportedly responsible for victimising several other ZANU PF supporters and war veterans who are perceived to be in opposition to the Minister, including James Kaunye, who reportedly intends to contest against the Minister in the ZANU PF primary elections for the constituency.

James Kaunye was reportedly stripped naked and assaulted. He is reported to have lost consciousness and had to be resuscitated by having water poured over him then taken to Rusape General Hospital having apparently sustained serious head injuries. In Rusape (Manicaland Province) the youths accompanying Mutasa, known as the “A-team,” allegedly assaulted a Mrs. Munyembani at her homestead and also allegedly assaulted people at a bus stop in Headlands. They are said to have gone from the bus stop to a residential area in Headlands where they reportedly assaulted Nyasha Chingosho, the daughter of a war veteran. Chingosho sustained a broken leg from the attack. The group allegedly went to Kaunye’s house where they reportedly assaulted 5 people including Kaunye’s wife, Joyline Kaunye. Minister Mutasa was reported to have been actively involved in the violence at this point and was also reportedly seen “shooting at the dogs and windowpanes and with catapults”.

Along the road leading back to Makombe Business Centre, the youths purportedly assaulted Kelvin Magwaro who sustained a deep cut on the lower lip. The youths also reportedly stopped at Mrs. Chiparange’s homestead where they assaulted her on the back using a shovel. Mrs. Chiparange’s lost one of her front teeth as a result and sustained a swollen shoulder and back. At Reeb Business Centre, the youths reportedly assaulted Tenga Muchatiza, breaking his leg in the process. In Rusape, near Total service station, they allegedly assaulted Charles Katyora, ZANU PF district Chairman for Vengere (Manicaland province). They purportedly stripped him naked and stabbed him in the buttocks with a screwdriver. In Vengere, more people were assaulted on the way to Mhiripiri’s homestead where the youths reportedly destroyed property and killed a dog. They also allegedly looted various utensils and $165 000 cash at Mhiripiri’s home before they retired to the Minister Mutasa’s house where they were said to be based.

Eventually 42 people were reportedly arrested for their involvement in the violence. Minister Mutasa reportedly acknowledged that the youths were his supporters and allegedly paid bail for 31 of them. He was quoted as having stated :”Of, course I have to pay for my supporters. I have paid for 31, and it was $300 000 each.”[2] No action has yet been recorded as having been taken against Minister Mutasa.

The ZRP established a board of inquiry to investigate the violence in Rusape and found that Minister Mutasa had indeed been involved in the violence that occurred in Makoni North. The Human Rights Forum condemns the events that took place in Makoni North and is deeply disturbed that although the youths that perpetrated the violence were arrested and have been charged for the violence, the Minister has not been prosecuted for his involvements in the violence. In addition comments reportedly made by Minister Mutasa following the incident exhibited a complete lack of remorse on his part. Minister Mutasa, who indeed seems to be enjoying impunity for his actions, has had comments attributed to him in the nature the following: “I had gone to attend a church service in my constituency and Kaunye came to provoke me. He got what he deserved. Akabatwa neriva rake (he was caught in his own trap.)”[3]

The Human Rights Forum commends the Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, for the recent stance that he adopted with respect to incidents of political violence. According to the Commissioner the ZRP will “have zero tolerance of any situation or activities which they perceive as contributing to violence.”[4] The Commissioner also stated that “towards the 2005 Parliamentary Elections… barbaric type of political activism in which youths are used as cannon fodder should cease.” The Human Rights Forum noted these sentiments with appreciation as instigators of political violence have indeed often in the past used youths as foot soldiers who are later prosecuted for perpetrating violence while the instigators themselves have not been held accountable for their involvement in the violence as well.[5] We call upon the Commissioner to take action against holders of political office who believe that they enjoy impunity in so far as they make statements such as “Ndino disciplinwa nani?” (who will discipline me).[6] Scrupulous prosecution of the instigators of violence is just as vital as prosecution of perpetrators.

Clashes broke out between ZANU PF and MDC youths in Epworth (Hatfield constituency). MDC youths that were distributing flyers in the constituency were reportedly attacked by ZANU PF youths resulting in a clash during which some MDC youths were reportedly kidnapped by ZANU PF youths and assaulted by them. One of the MDC youths alleges that he was abducted by war veterans and assaulted by them. He claims that during the clash between MDC and ZANU PF youths on 16 August 2004 he was caught by war veterans who allegedly beat him with baton sticks and sjamboks for approximately 30 minutes before they abducted him and took him to their base where they assaulted him further. NN alleges that ZRP officers later arrived at the base and joined in the assault. NN reportedly lost consciousness for about an hour. He was then allegedly taken to Domboramwari Police Station where the war veterans are said to have watched as the police continued assaulting him.

NN was then apparently returned to the custody of the war veterans who took him away to another of their bases known as Donhoro where there were 14 other ZANU PF youths. He was allegedly ordered to fight 11 of them one by one. He was handcuffed and the 11 youths he had fought against were reportedly ordered to assault him. CID officers from the Law and Order Maintenance section reportedly arrived later and arrested NN and the 14 ZANU PF youths and took them to Harare Central Police Station. The 14 youths were reportedly released but NN was kept in police custody. He was allegedly beaten during the night and the next morning he was asked to reveal the names of his MDC colleagues. When he refused to do so he was allegedly assaulted again. He was then taken to court and reportedly charged under POSA then released on $250 000 bail.

The reported involvement of police in incidents such as the one above perpetuates the lack of political tolerance that subsists between youths that are members of ZANU PF and MDC. The Human Rights Forum deplores the perpetration of political violence by state agents. Such involvement has the effect of deterring victims of political violence from reporting these incidents to the police due to diminished trust in the ability of the police to act in a professional and ethical manner.

State agents were also allegedly involved in torturing residents of Mabvuku on 26 August 2004. This allegedly occurred after a soldier in civilian clothing reportedly made advances towards a married woman who apparently turned him down. The soldier is alleged to have assaulted the woman for turning him down. The woman’s husband, who was reportedly returning home from work, passed by Chizhanje Shopping Complex and on seeing that his wife was being assaulted, shouted ”thief, thief” to draw the attention of people nearby. People in the vicinity responded to the man’s call and reportedly assaulted the soldier assuming that he was a thief. The soldier then reportedly identified himself and produced his ID and was subsequently set free.

A while later about 15 uniformed soldiers reportedly appeared and randomly assaulted any person that they came across accusing them of having assaulted a soldier earlier on. The soldiers reportedly abducted some of the residents, accusing them of being MDC supporters and took them to the ZNA NOCZIM base along Mutare Road where they were assaulted with rifle butts, baton sticks and kicked with booted feet. Some allege that they were forced to roll on the ground. One of them, TN, alleges that he was ordered to urinate and then forced to roll down in his urine. He was then reportedly forced to do press ups among many other things. The abducted persons were reportedly taken to Mabvuku Police Station where they were detained and released the following evening, 27 August 2004.

Such actions by the Army against civilians are deplorable, in particular the random assault of civilians who may or may not have been involved in the earlier violence. The Human Rights Forum calls upon state agents to desist from meting out justice through torture, abduction or unlawful arrests, where any reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed is absent. We urge state agents to respect structures established by Zimbabwean law for dealing with suspected perpetrators of crime.

Violence continues to be perpetrated against teachers in rural schools. Teachers are victimized and assaulted for real or perceived ties to the MDC. The Human Rights Forum calls on the relevant authorities to ensure that teachers operate in a violence and fear-free environment in the campaign period for the March 2005 Parliamentary Elections. Nesbert Chinheya, Headmaster of Musani Primary School (Chipinge North constituency – Manicaland Province), was reportedly attacked by 10 ZANU PF youths for supporting the MDC. Chinheya was reportedly assaulted in the presence of teachers at the school. He was then reportedly ordered by war veterans to write a report to them explaining why he supports the MDC. The attack on the headmaster reportedly followed well-attended meetings in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts addressed by Morgan Tsvangirai. Freeman Chikangaise, a teacher at Gideon Mhlanga Secondary School (Chipinge North constituency – Manicaland Province), was allegedly assaulted by ZANU PF supporters who accused him of sympathizing with the opposition MDC. Chikangaise has reportedly gone into hiding out of fear. Another teacher at Tsungai High School in Gokwe North (Midlands Province) was allegedly assaulted by Garikai Mukundwa, ZANU PF Youth Chairperson, Tapera, ZANU Youth Vice-Chairperson for Gokwe North, and two other ZANU PF youths on allegations that he had celebrated an assault that had been perpetrated earlier on Garikai by fellow ZANU PF youths during an incident of intra-party violence. He was allegedly threatened with more assaults and told not to come and teach in that area again. The incident was reported to Nembudiya Police Station.

The Human Rights Forum urges the Government of Zimbabwe to “take necessary measures to ensure the scrupulous implementation”[7] of SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. Of particular concern to the Human Rights Forum is the safeguarding of “human and civil liberties of all citizens including the freedom of movement, assembly, association and expression” which the Government of Zimbabwe does not appear to be respecting at the present time. While the Human Rights Forum welcomes assurances by the President of Zimbabwe to the effect that Zimbabwean “security organs will show no mercy towards any aberration that detracts from our peace, stability and tranquillity.,” [8] these assurances are yet to be translated into action.

Trends for politically motivated human rights violations: January – August 2004

Sources: The information contained in this report is derived from statements made to the Public Interest Unit of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum, statements taken by the member organisations of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. (See last page for list of member organisations), newspaper reports, Justice for Agriculture (JAG), Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Solidarity Peace Trust (SPT), Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), Zimbabwe Community Development Trust (ZCDT), Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN).

Notes to the tables:

· All cases of torture fall under the definition of torture according to the general definition given in the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment.

4 By a state official or another individual acting with the acquiescence of the State.

· Those individuals referred to in point # 4 include the ZRP, ZNA, ZPS and the ZNLWVA (as a reserve force of the ZNA) and by any other grouping when directly sanctioned by the state.

Arrest by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with no reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed. Detention thereafter for a period exceeding 48 hours without access to redress through the courts or subsequent release without charge.

A kidnapping by a member(s) of an organised group that is not the ZRP, political party, ZNLWVA, ZNA, MDC, Zanu PF etc

Kidnapped persons whose whereabouts remained unknown at the time of reporting. Their whereabouts have still to be ascertained through follow up reports or further investigation.

These are incidents in which property rights have been violated. This includes arson, property damage and destruction and theft.

Cases of Political Violence

Note: The identities of victims whose names have not been published in the press and are not public officials are protected by the use of initials. This is done in order to protect the victim from further violence, intimidation and possible recriminatory attacks.

The purpose of this report is to record the nature of the politically motivated violence and intimidation that continues to prevail in the country. The Monthly Political Violence Reports are primarily based on victims’ accounts, accompanied by medical evidence where possible, obtained from member organisations of the Human Rights Forum and other partner organisations. Use is also made of press reports on politically motivated violence. The Monthly Political Violence Report cannot therefore be considered as the exhaustive record of all incidents of politically-motivated violence in Zimbabwe in the period under review. Nevertheless, every incident reported to the Human Rights Forum directly or through its members is meticulously documented and included in the reports.

The situation prevailing in the country is such that it has not been possible to verify all of these accounts. The Human Rights Forum has done what it can to verify the reports, and is satisfied that the vast majority of them are substantially true. It is also not possible to rule out whether a victim’s account is exaggerated or contains inaccuracies.

All reports derived from the press are denoted with the symbol ∑.

BULaWAYO

Pumula-Luveve

24 August 2004

· PN and his two friends were reportedly walking from Pumula North to Magwegwe at around 21:00 hours when they met 8 men from the Neighbourhood Watch Committee in the area. The trio were allegedly ordered to stop by the 8 men, however PN’s friends kept on walking while he stopped. The other two ran away leaving PN behind with the men from the Neighbourhood Watch Committee. The men allegedly took him to the ZESA Substation in Pumula North where they showed him inscriptions on the walls that read “MDC” and “Mugabe must go”. PN was accused of having written the inscriptions with his friends. He was handcuffed and ordered to lie down on his stomach and a stick was pushed between his hands and legs. He was reportedly interrogated about his friends, where they were coming from and what they had in their bags but he denied any knowledge of what their bags contained. PN informed the men that he was coming from his aunt’s home. The men accompanied PN to his aunt’s home, however, upon arrival, the Neighbourhood Watch Committee men refused to enter the premises. Instead they then took PN to Pumula Police Station where they were reportedly joined by plain-clothes police officers in beating him with baton sticks in the investigation room.

PN claims that they verbally abused him during the beating, asked him why he was not crying and told him that they were going to teach him a lesson. One of the men reportedly stood on PN’s legs during the beating. PN claims that he started bleeding from wounds caused by the handcuffs. He was then led to the charge office. He is unsure whether he slept or passed out but when he awoke he asked the police officers to call an ambulance to take him to hospital. The police officers allegedly refused to do so and questioned him about whom he would say had beaten him when the hospital authorities enquired about this. The police officers also allegedly informed him that they were protected by the fact that they are allowed by law to use minimum force during arrests. PN was later told to pay a $25 000 fine for having been found with wet paint on his hands. He asserts that this was a result of his having been forced to touch wet paint at the ZESA Substation. PN had no money on him and was told to go home and get the fine at around 06:00 hours. He went to his aunt’s house and never went back to the police station and he is afraid that they may still be looking for him.

HARARE

Harare Central

17 August 2004

· KA, a member of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) and another member of GALZ reportedly took the afternoon off work on 17 August 2004. They gave a lift to a female colleague who was going to CONNECT in Baines Avenue to drop off a research paper. As they drove past State House they stopped on the left hand side to allow their colleague to get out of the car. A uniformed policeman came and asked them why they had stopped there. KA apologized for having mistakenly stopped in such a sensitive area. The trio was asked for their names and addresses and where they worked. KA was then reportedly ordered to drive round the corner, without the others, where he was to see a traffic police officer. He drove to the 7^th Street gate of State House where he was met by a man in a black suit and white shirt, who reportedly said, “You have come to see us at last”. The man reportedly searched the car but found nothing of interest. KA was ordered through the gate where he saw his colleague whose dress was now covered in dirt. She had allegedly been hit in the stomach and was crying. KA was reportedly told to leave his jacket, which contained $200 000 mostly in $20 00 notes, his passport, chequebook and a bunch of keys in the car. He was directed to stand against the wall and told to remove his glasses. He alleges that he was verbally abused about his sexuality and then kicked with the flat side of the officer’s shoe on the right side of his head. He was asked why he was at State House and related what had happened but the officer reportedly refused to believe his story and kicked him at least twice more. KA was later taken outside, given his glasses and reportedly fined $25 000 by a traffic police officer outside State House for “stopping where a ‘no stopping’ sign is erected”.

KA was then taken back inside the grounds of State House where he was reportedly directed to sit on a rubbish heap behind another wall where his other male colleague was already sitting, visibly shaken. His colleague had reportedly been beaten on the arm with the end of an exhaust pipe, kicked all over the body and then made to stand in a dustbin in remains of sadza. The two men were both reportedly subjected to further verbal and physical abuse pertaining to their sexuality. After some time another man came and allegedly slapped KA on the left side of his head with an open palm resulting in his glasses falling to the ground and the frame being damaged. The two were then reportedly interrogated about an NCA magazine that had been found in their car.

All three members of GALZ were then driven to Harare Central Police Station. On arrival at the Harare Central Police Station they were reportedly taken to the front desk and ordered to sit on the floor. KA’s jacket had reportedly been emptied of all its contents including his money, passport and chequebook. His pocket diary, which contained his credit cards, had been taken and he overheard that they would be photocopied along with the NCA agenda. After having been at Harare Central Police Station for some time, they were allegedly taken to room 23 of the Police Internal Security and Intelligence (PISI) unit. They were told to sit on the floor and were reportedly interrogated about what had happened but they were informed that their story was not believable. KA enquired what they would be charged with and he was reportedly told it was something to do with stopping illegally. They were later placed in cells upstairs adjacent to the reception and were told to wait there. They spent the night in the cells, which were overcrowded and had unhealthy sanitary conditions. The next morning they were reportedly interrogated separately. Towards evening they were allowed to see their lawyers. The trio were made to spend a second night in police custody. The next morning they were interrogated again about the NCA and then taken to their homes in an open truck where searches were conducted. They were then returned to Harare Central Police Station. They were released on that day and were informed that investigations would continue. KA’s money was reportedly missing when his belongings were returned to him.

Hatfield

1 August 2004

· Four youths are reported to have assaulted GN at his home before he was due to attend an NCA workshop. They were looking for him and asked him to identify himself. GN admitted that he was indeed the person that they were looking for. GN was allegedly beaten by one of the youths who accused him of being ‘one of the NCA leaders’. He reportedly sustained deep cuts on the head and elbow during the assault.

8 August 2004

· WK claims he was assaulted for holding an MDC meeting at his house by 5 youths that he suspects are members of ZANU PF. The meeting started at 15:00 hours and ended at 16:30 hours. The 5 youths reportedly arrived at his house at around 17:00 hours in a white Peugeot truck. They asked to see him and accused him of holding MDC meetings in his house then assaulted him with sticks causing him to fall to the ground. The youths then kicked him all over the body with booted feet while he lay on the ground until he lost consciousness. He was unconscious for about 15 minutes and when he later came to the youths had left.

14 August 2004

· MM, an MDC member, and his colleagues were distributing MDC flyers in Epworth at around 13:20 hours when a group of ZANU PF youths allegedly abducted one of MM’s colleagues. MM and his colleagues reportedly went to the place where their colleague had been taken to negotiate for his release. However, when the negotiations failed, fighting reportedly ensued between youths from the two parties. MM was reportedly injured during the ensuing clash between ZANU PF and MDC youths.

15 August 2004

· Following his involvement in a clash with ZANU PF youths the previous day, MM claims that police officers came to his home, handcuffed him then forced him into a police truck. He was allegedly taken around Epworth and ordered to indicate the addresses of other MDC activists in the area. These MDC activists were then reportedly arrested and they were all taken to Harare Central Police Station where they were detained until 18 August 2004. MM was then allegedly charged with public violence and released on bail.

16 August 2004

· AN, an MDC member, and his colleagues were reportedly distributing MDC flyers door-to-door in Epworth. ZANU PF supporters allegedly kidnapped one of their members. AN and his other colleagues then went to the base and rescued their colleague. In the process, two of AN’s colleagues were reportedly caught and taken to a war veterans base in the area where they were badly assaulted. The police were later notified and they picked up the two MDC members from the war veterans base. The two were asked to name all the other members who were distributing the flyers. AN claims that ZANU PF, ZRP, CIO, CID and soldiers now want him after the two MDC members that were arrested gave his name to them.

· AN claims that on 16 August 2004 he and other MDC youths were distributing campaign material in Komboni Yatsva area in Epworth when they clashed with ZANU PF supporters. AN claims that immediately thereafter, ZANU PF supporters started implicating anyone known to be an MDC supporter in the violence that had taken place. They allegedly went to his house and issued him with death threats. AN alleges that in the evening, army trucks carrying police officers and soldiers came to his house. He subsequently ran away and is living in fear since he alleges that CIOs are also looking for him.

· NN, an MDC member, claims that he was attacked by a mob of ZANU PF youths at around 14:00 hours while he was distributing flyers in Komboni Yatsva, Epworth with 24 other MDC members. NN purports that ZANU PF youths followed them and then abducted one of his fellow MDC members and started assaulting him severely. NN, a leader of the group, claims that he tried to negotiate with the ZANU PF youths for the release of his colleague. The negotiations however fell through with the ZANU PF youths accusing the MDC youths of distributing flyers in an area clearly designated for ZANU PF. It is reported that the two groups subsequently started fighting each other. NN alleges that he was caught by some war veterans during the fight and was beaten with baton sticks and sjamboks for more than 30 minutes. He further alleges that he was abducted and taken to their base where the assault continued. He claims the police arrived at the base and joined the war veterans in the beating him with baton sticks all over his body.

NN reportedly lost consciousness for about an hour and was taken to Domboramwari Police Station when he came to. He claims some war veterans followed him to the police station and watched while the police further assaulted him. The war veterans then allegedly took the victim out of police custody to another base that they operate called Dhonoro. At Dhonoro there were 14 ZANU PF youths. NN was allegedly ordered to fight 11 of the youths, one after the other. He claims that he complied. Immediately thereafter, he was reportedly ordered to reveal the people responsible for training MDC youths. The war veterans reportedly handcuffed him and ordered the 11 ZANU PF youths to assault him. NN alleges that some CID officers and officers from the Law and Order Maintenance Section then arrived and took him and the 11 ZANU PF youths away in a police truck to Harare Central Police Station. The 11 ZANU PF youths were reportedly later released while NN was kept in the cells. He purports that he was further beaten during the night. On the next day he was allegedly assaulted and then ordered to supply the police with names and addresses of his MDC colleagues. He was allegedly subjected to further assaults when he refused to give them the details they sought. He was reportedly charged under POSA on 18 August 2004 and granted $250 000 bail.

· TN, MC, PM and FM were allegedly involved in a dispute between ZANU PF supporters and MDC supporters while they were distributing MDC campaign material in Komboni Yatsva, Epworth on 16 August 2004. Two of their colleagues were allegedly arrested and asked to name the other persons that had been distributing flyers, which they did. The four are now afraid because the ZRP, ZANU PF supporters and the ZNA are reportedly looking for them.

19 August 2004

· MM is the MDC Vice-Chairperson in Epworth. He claims that 3 ZANU PF activists at the ZANU PF offices in Domboramwari, Epworth, assaulted him. The ZANU PF activists reportedly saw him passing by ZANU PF offices in Epworth and dragged MM into the offices, accusing him of causing commotion in Epworth by sending MDC youths to distribute flyers. One of the assailants reportedly struck MM hard in the face with an open hand causing him to fall to the ground. The assailant reportedly kicked MM in the lower abdomen, thighs and buttocks with booted feet. An elderly ZANU PF supporter reportedly later intervened and asked the youths to stop assaulting MM.

Highfield

22 August 2004

· TG, an MDC member, and his colleagues were assessing the situation in their constituency following allegations that some of their members were under threat from ZANU PF activists when a group of about 30 ZANU PF youths allegedly approached them. TG claims that he tried to run away from the youths and in the process he tripped, fell and hurt his leg. TG was reportedly caught by the youths and assaulted on the head and in the abdomen. He was allegedly beaten with fists and whips and kicked with booted feet all over the body. The beating reportedly ended when the police arrived and both the ZANU PF and the MDC youths disappeared in fear of being arrested.

Mabvuku

26 August 2004

· PM claims that on the day of the incident about 5 soldiers in civilian were drinking beer at Chizhanje Shopping Complex. One of the soldiers reportedly made advances towards a married woman who reportedly turned him down. The soldier is alleged to have assaulted the woman for turning him down. The woman’s husband, who was reportedly returning home from work, passed by Chizhanje Shopping Complex and on seeing that his wife was being assaulted, shouted ”thief, thief” to draw the attention of people nearby. People in the vicinity responded to the man’s call and reportedly started assaulting the soldier assuming that he was a thief. The soldier then reportedly identified himself and produced his ID and was subsequently set free. A while later about 15 uniformed soldiers appeared and randomly assaulted any person that they came across accusing them of assaulting a soldier. PM and some other youths were allegedly taken to the ZNA NOCZIM base along Mutare Road where PM was assaulted with rifle butts, baton sticks and kicked with booted feet. PM was also allegedly ordered to crawl whilst being beaten. It is alleged that the soldiers wanted to take the youths to Cranborne Barracks for further beatings but they had no fuel for transport. PM claims that at around 04:00 hours they were taken to Mabvuku Police Station where they were detained only to be released on Friday evening.

· TN, an MDC activist, claims that around 20:00 hours approximately 27 soldiers came to his house searching for MDC regalia. They reportedly found some MDC flyers and consequently assaulted him with rifle butts. TN claims that he was slapped twice on the face and accused of having been part of the crowd that had beaten a soldier in Mabvuku who had been caught committing adultery. TN was reportedly taken to Chizhanje Bar where about 100 people, who had been rounded up randomly, were being beaten with rifle butts and sticks by soldiers. He claims that the 100 included both women and men.From this group 12 MDC activists were reportedly singled out and taken to the ZNA NOCZIM base. An unnamed police officer allegedly witnessed these events but did not intervene.

When they got to the base, TN claims he was forced to crawl on his stomach. He was later reportedly forced to urinate on the ground and then made to roll in the urine. He claims that he was forced to address the MDC supporters at the base. He was then purportedly forced to lie down on his stomach as the soldiers walked over him using his head as a stepping-stone. TN and the others were reportedly forced to do press-ups and those who could not do so because of injuries sustained during the assault they had been subjected to, were further assaulted. The soldiers also allegedly threatened to set dogs on them if they did not comply with the orders they were being given. TN was allegedly also issued with death threats. He claims that he was later taken to the guardroom to be questioned about Cain Nkala’s[9] death since they had found him in possession of a paper produced by the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) relating to media reportage of the death of Cain Nkala. The soldiers allegedly started pulling out TN’s dreadlocks. One of the soldiers reportedly phoned Military Police in Cranborne and requested a vehicle to take TN and the other victims to Cranborne Barracks but was reportedly informed that the soldiers had no fuel. TN claims that around 04:00 hours, the Member-in-Charge for Mabvuku Police Station phoned the soldiers enquiring about the kidnapped victims. TN and the other victims were then taken to Mabvuku Police Station where they were taken into custody. Twenty-nine soldiers reportedly arrived at Mabvuku Police Station at around 08:00 hours demanding to take TN and the others back into their custody but the Member-in-Charge turned down the request. The victims were later released at around 17:00 hours that same day after a lawyer had intervened on their behalf. The police allegedly refused to give the victims police clearance for treatment at the hospital.

· AS claims that he was escorting his brother to his house around 20:00 hours. The two men reportedly met a group of uniformed soldiers who stopped them and asked them where they were coming from. AS claims that the soldiers pushed him and slapped him on the face with open palms. He was allegedly taken to a car park were there was a group of people who had also been rounded up by the soldiers. At the car park he was reportedly beaten with a baton stick and kicked on the buttocks with booted feet while being forced to do press-ups. AS was among the people who were then selected to go to Mabvuku Police Station while the rest of the crowd was sent home. He was allegedly detained for one night and then released later the following day.

· JH claims that on 26 August 2004 he attended the funeral of a person who was in the same burial club as him. While at the funeral he was asked to go and buy beer for the people gathered at the funeral. JH went into Chizhanje Bar to purchase some beers and while he was in the bar a soldier allegedly commanded all persons in the bar to lie down on the ground. One of the patrons was reportedly asked whether he knew anyone in the bar. The patron pointed at JH alleging that he knew him. JH claims that he was then assaulted with fists and baton sticks and kicked with booted feet, whilst the other soldiers were pointing guns at him. The beatings lasted for about 15 minutes. It is further reported that the soldiers then selected about 11 other patrons who were force-marched to the ZNA NOCZIM base, which is located along Mutare Road. At the base JH claims that he and others were forced to lie on their stomachs. They were allegedly forced to do press-ups whilst being assaulted. At around 04:00 hours JH and others were reportedly taken to Mabvuku Police Station where they were detained for the whole day only to be released late in the afternoon on Friday. He claims that although the police accused him of assaulting someone, they released him without preferring charges against him.

28 August 2004

· MM claims that he was asleep when he heard a violent knock on the door. He opened the door and was reportedly hit with the butt of a gun by soldiers. MM alleges that he was accused by the soldiers of being an MDC activist. He was also reportedly accused of assaulting a soldier on 26 August 2004. The soldiers then reportedly assaulted MM with baton sticks and a whip and kicked him with a booted foot on the head. He allegedly lost conscious for an unspecified period of time. When MM regained consciousness he was reportedly force-marched around Mabvuku and ordered to show the soldiers other MDC activists in the area. MM did not show them anyone and was eventually released.

MANICALAND

Mutare Central

3 August 2004

· ∑PTUZ Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe, was reportedly arrested by officers from the Law and Order Maintenance section in Mutare on accusations of violating POSA. He was arrested after addressing students at Mutare Teachers’ College without police clearance. Mandionepi Zimunya, the Provincial Chairperson for Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), who addressed the students before Majongwe was reportedly not arrested. It is reportedly the college’s custom to have leaders of teachers’ unions address final year students before they sit for their examinations. Majongwe was reportedly taken to Sakubva Police Station. His dictaphone and tapes were allegedly confiscated before he was taken to Mutare Central Police Station. He was held there for 5 hours while the police listened to his speech on the tape before they released him. The police promised to return his dictaphone and tape in two weeks time but this has not yet been done.

Chipinge North

August 2004

· ∑ Nesbert Chinheya, Headmaster of Musani Primary School, was reportedly attacked by 10 ZANU PF youths for supporting the MDC. The youths allegedly took away the keys to the school offices. Chinheya was reportedly assaulted in the presence of teachers at the school. He was then reportedly ordered by war veterans to write a report to them explaining why he supports the MDC. The attack on the headmaster reportedly followed well-attended meetings in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts addressed by Morgan Tsvangirai.

· ∑ Freeman Chikangaise, a teacher at Gideon Mhlanga Secondary School, was allegedly assaulted by ZANU PF supporters who accused him of sympathizing with the opposition MDC. Chikangaise has reportedly gone into hiding out of fear.

Makoni North

21 August 2004

· ∑Didymus Mutasa, ZANU PF MP for Makoni North and Minister of Special Affairs in the President’s Office Responsible for the Anti-corruption and Anti Monopolies Programme, visited St Patrick’s Church at Mutiwegora in Chief Chiendambuya’s area for a church gathering. He reportedly led a convoy of 5 vehicles accompanied by about 25 youths and other sympathisers. At the church gathering, the youths allegedly assaulted Mrs. Chitatu who supports James Kaunye[10], resulting in her bleeding from the nose and mouth. Minister Mutasa reportedly witnessed the event.

James Kaunye’s brother, Leaveme Kaunye was also reportedly assaulted before James arrived. When James Kaunye arrived, he reportedly sat next to the Minister and when food was served they ate from the same plate. After eating, Minister Mutasa left to rest in his car while Kaunye and others remained at the fireplace. While at the fireplace, James Kaunye and the others were allegedly assaulted with a log by the ZANU PF youths who had come to the church gathering with the Minister. Kaunye was then reportedly dragged from the fireplace and assaulted in the presence of the Minister. Kaunye and those accompanying him reportedly fled into the bush following the assault. Kaunye’s Datsun vehicle was also allegedly smashed and overturned.

21 August 2004

The next morning Kaunye and the others who had been assaulted the previous evening informed the Minister about the incident and were allegedly referred to the leader of the youths. Kaunye was reportedly further assaulted and stripped naked. Kaunye reportedly lost consciousness and had to be resuscitated by having water poured over him. He was taken to Rusape General Hospital having reportedly sustained serious head injuries and a suspected broken rib. Sugar was purportedly poured into the engine of Kaunye’s vehicle. He was also allegedly robbed of his cell phone, spectacles, jacket, pocket diary and $200 000 during the assault.

In the afternoon, the youths and Minister Mutasa reportedly left Mutiwegora for Rusape. In Rusape the youths accompanying Mutasa, reportedly known as the “A-team,” allegedly assaulted Mrs. Munyembani at her homestead and stole cash amounting to $2.5 million before vandalising a Rhino tractor and pouring sugar into its engine. They also allegedly assaulted people at a bus stop in Headlands. They are said to have gone from the bus stop to a residential area in Headlands where they reportedly assaulted Nyasha Chingosho, the daughter of a war veteran, who sustained a broken leg. At Makombe Business Centre, the youths accompanying Minister Mutasa, allegedly assaulted about 10 people and burnt down a shed housing vegetable vendors. The group allegedly went to Kaunye’s house where they reportedly assaulted 5 people including Kaunye’s wife, Joyline Kaunye. The youths also reportedly broke 6 windowpanes and vandalised an electric pump. Minister Mutasa was allegedly actively involved in the violence at this point and was reportedly seen shooting at the windowpanes and at the dogs with catapults.

Along the road leading back to Makombe Business Centre, the youths purportedly assaulted Kelvin Magwaro who sustained a deep cut on the lower lip. The youths also reportedly stopped at Mrs. Chiparange’s homestead where they assaulted her on the back using a shovel. Mrs. Chiparange’s lost one of her front teeth as a result and sustained a swollen shoulder and back. At Reeb Business Centre, the youths reportedly assaulted Tenga Muchatiza, breaking his leg in the process. In Rusape, near Total service station, they allegedly assaulted Charles Katyora, ZANU PF district Chairman for Vengere. They purportedly stripped him naked and stabbed him in the buttocks with a screwdriver. In Vengere, more people were assaulted on the way to Mhiripiri’s homestead where the youths reportedly destroyed property and killed a dog. They also allegedly looted various utensils and $165 000 cash at Mhiripiri’s home before they retired to the Minister Mutasa’s house where they were said to be based.

The incidents were reported to the police and Inspector Tomukai reportedly went to the Minister’s house to arrest the culprits. It is alleged that the Minister was not present when the police arrived. He later purportedly arrived and asked the police what they wanted. During the discussions, Inspector Tomukai was allegedly slapped in the face and stated that he could not identify who slapped him since about 25 youths were standing around him. However according to an entry in the occurrence book 1447/2004 reportedly made by another police officer Constable Gwature, Inspector Tomukai was reportedly slapped by Minister Mutasa. The inspector then allegedly abandoned the Defender vehicle and ran away back to the police station.

Eventually 42 people were reportedly arrested for their involvement in the violence. Minister Mutasa reportedly acknowledged that the youths were his supporters and allegedly paid bail for 31 of them. He was quoted as having stated: “Of, course I have to pay for my supporters. I have paid for 31, and it was $300 000 each.” No action has yet been taken against Minister Mutasa.

MASVINGO

Masvingo South

5 August 2004

· ∑Six unidentified men allegedly burnt several huts and household property worth about $35 million belonging to families that settled on Acton Farm at the beginning of farm invasions in 2000. Approximately 26 people were reportedly left homeless in the arson attack. Two of the he families claim that they had been given offer letters by the former Masvingo District Administrator, Mr. Makanzwei Jecheche. However, Chief Fortunate Charumbira, Deputy Minister for Local

Nature of Violation	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August
Assault	34	32	109	16	29	12	12	44
Abduction/ kidnapping	7	3	12	1	13	6	1	8
Displacement	5	2	19	6	13	3	4	6
Freedom of Association / Assembly/ Expression	32	97	18	48	82	140	27	27
Murder	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Political discrimination/ victimisation	24	100	141	68	35	21	29	31
Property –related violations	10	12	35	5	11	4	3	33
Torture	2	74	23	16	18	15	1	10
Unlawful Arrest	2	7	16	17	6	3	2	8
	Main Events
January	- ZANU PF and MDC inter-party violence: pre Gutu North constituency (Masvingo Province) by-election. - Violence in Shamva constituency (Mashonaland Central Province), one person killed, Alexander Chigega (MDC).
February	- NCA demonstration to call for a new constitution in Harare Central constituency (Harare Province) reportedly disrupted by ZRP. - Violence on Charleswood Estate, Chimanimani (Manicaland Province) belonging to MDC MP for Chimanimani, Roy Bennet. One person killed, Shemi Chimbarara (farm worker).
March	- Inter-party violence: Zengeza constituency by-election (Harare Province), majority of victims reportedly MDC supporters/members. One person killed, Francis Chinozvina (MDC).
April	- Post Zengeza by-election retribution. Main targets reportedly MDC members. - Inter-party violence in Mabvuku constituency (Harare Province). - MDC intra-party violence in St Mary’s constituency (Harare Province).
May	- ZANU PF and MDC inter-party violence: Violence against MDC members in Mbare East constituency (Harare Province) reportedly perpetrated by members of Chipangano. - ZANU PF and MDC inter-party violence: Alleged retribution against those that attended MDC rally in Chendambuya, Makoni North constituency (Manicaland Province).
June	- ZRP reportedly disrupts WOZA meeting on 16 June 2004 in Mpopoma constituency (Bulawayo Province). - ZRP reportedly stops WOZA demonstration in commemoration of World Refugee Day on 19 June 2004 in Mpopoma constituency (Bulawayo Province).
July	- Inter-party violence: ZANU PF youths reportedly attack MDC Provincial Assembly Meeting in Mvurwi, Mazowe West (Mashonaland Central Province).
August	- ZANU PF intra-party violence in Makoni North (Manicaland Province). - ZNA reportedly torture civilians in Mabvuku, (Harare Province). - ZANU PF and MDC inter-party violence in Hatfield (Harare Province).

OVERVIEW

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Notes to the tables: