OVERVIEW

The month of August was characterised by a fairly low number of civic activities as compared to the previous month. However, a number of human rights violations took place and were reported to us. Police arrested about 153 activists from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) in Bulawayo following a procession to protest the introduction and implementation of the Monetary Policy by the Reserve Bank Governor. Of the activists arrested, 13 were breastfeeding, 26 were juveniles, and 1 was on Anti-Retroviral Therapy. The activists were taken to five different holding places which are Bulawayo Central, Sauertown, Mzilikazi, Queens Park and Barbourfields Police Stations. It is reported that some of the juveniles complained of beatings from the police. The Human Rights Forum would like to urge the responsible authorities to protect the freedoms of association and expression as well as the right to demonstrate as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and other international human rights instruments.

In another case of wrongful shooting, Prince Chabuda was shot dead on 29 August along High Glen Road by plain-clothes police detectives who are reported to have mistaken the vehicle he was travelling in for one that was being used by a gang of robbers. The deceased, who was travelling in a Ford Laser motor vehicle as a backseat passenger, died on the way to Harare Central Hospital. He sustained gunshot wounds after the detectives, patrolling in an unmarked car, fired on the vehicle during a chase. The Forum notes this incident with great concern considering that another wrongful shooting by the police took place in the previous month. The Forum would again want to appeal to the police to exercise extreme caution when discharging their duties.

A case of intra-party violence took place in the month of August. It is reported that on 28 August, a group of rowdy youths aligned to the Mutambara Faction of the MDC, besieged MDC offices in Matebeleland North demanding that officials belonging to the Tsvangirai faction vacate the premises. The Anti-Senate faction officials were allegedly threatened with violence if they did not leave the premises. The Forum deplores such violence and urges the MDC and any other party to resolve their differences amicably.

Four leaders from the Christian Alliance were arrested and later released without charge after being questioned about the activities of their organisation. The four arrested were Bishop Levy Kadenge, Reverend Chigwida, Mr. Pious Wakatama and Reverend Magaya and his wife. They were arrested at the Snake Park 20 kilometres outside Harare after a Bulawayo meeting of the Christian Alliance leadership. The Forum urges the police to desist from the practice of illegally detaining innocent civilians and releasing them without a charge.

Totals: 1 August 2006 – 31 August 2006

Cumulative Totals: 1 January 2006 – 31 August 2006

The graph should be read along with the table depicting the monthly totals of violations from 1 January 2006 to 31 August 2006. The total quantifiable number of victims reported in August 2006 is 171.

Key Abbreviations

AIPPA – Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act PTUZ – Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe

BSA - Broadcasting Services Act UMP – Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe

CIO – Central Intelligence Organisation ZANU PF – Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front

MDC – Movement for Democratic Change ZCTU – Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions

MP – Member of Parliament ZNA – Zimbabwe National Army

ZPS – Zimbabwe Prison Service ZRP – Zimbabwe Republic Police

NAGG - National Alliance for Good Governance ZNLWVA – Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans

NCA – National Constitutional Assembly Association

OVT – Organised Violence and Torture ZIMTA – Zimbabwe Teachers Association

POSA – Public Order and Security Act ZUPCO – Zimbabwe United Passenger Company

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 a network of human rights activists and newspaper reports,

Notes to the tables:

Torture:

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.

The four elements of torture are:

1. Severe pain and suffering, whether physical or mental

2. Intentionally inflicted

3. With a purpose

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.

Unlawful arrest and detention:

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.

Abduction/kidnapping:

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

Disappearance:

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.

Property related

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. 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. Care is also taken to record the incidents in the language in which they were reported to the Forum.

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

Bulawayo Central

21 August 2006

Police arrested approximately 153 activists from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) in Bulawayo following a procession to protest the introduction and implementation of the Monetary Policy by the Reserve Bank Governor. Of the activists arrested, 13 were breastfeeding, 26 were juveniles, and 1 was on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). The activists were taken to five different holding places that is Bulawayo Central, Sauertown, Mzilikazi, Queens Park and Barbourfields Police Stations. Lawyers who attended to the women managed to secure the release of the 26 juveniles as well as 13 women into their custody on condition that they would report to Bulawayo Central Police Station every day until the date of their initial court appearance. The police allowed the activist who was on ART to have her medication while she was in custody. One of the activists sustained a fractured arm after falling from a police truck. The juveniles also complained of beatings during interrogation. The activists allege that they were detained in congested, unhygienic and inhuman conditions. Food, blankets and sanitary wares were provided by well wishers and the church community in Bulawayo. The activists appeared in court on 23 August. They were granted free bail and remanded out of custody to 10 October 2006.

Harare

Chitungwiza

20 August 2006

The victim states that on the day of the incident, he was at his home when he tried to caution two boys to desist from using foul language. It is at this point that one of the boys challenged this caution and started to assault the victim. One of the boys reportedly solicited for support from a group of ZANU PF youths who came and assaulted the victim as well. The victim states that he was rescued by MDC youth. It is reported that whilst the victim was on his way to report the case to the police, he met the ZANU PF youth group again and they assaulted him once more. His clothes were torn in the process and he went home to change into new clothes. During this time he states that the ZANU PF youths reported him to the police. When he eventually went to the police station, he was arrested and accused of starting the whole scuffle. He was released on 22 August 2006.

Glen-Norah

21August 2006

The police assaulted two people, a driver of a commuter omnibus and a passenger, after being arresting at a roadblock. The driver of the omnibus claims that he was driving to Glen View when suddenly he was stopped at a police roadblock. He further reports that he was arrested at the instigation of two police officers one who was in plain clothes that were apparently in the vehicle he was driving. He was accused of playing a cassette which contains lyrics that denounced “Operation Murambatsvina”. The driver was ordered to refund the passengers their bus fares and was later taken to Harare Central Police Station together with another passenger who happened to be his friend. They claim that the police assaulted them under their feet. They were eventually released after payment of admission of guilt fine.

Harare Central

3 August 2006

∑.It is reported that on the date in question, soldiers assaulted commuter omnibus drivers and rank marshals at the Kuwadzana bus terminus in Harare’s Central Business District. Seven cases of assault were confirmed. However the assaults extended to other innocent civilians. The assaults were carried out allegedly to avenge the beating up of a colleague soldier by touts at the Kuwadzana terminus. The soldiers allegedly used belts, booted feet and fists to randomly assault the commuter omni bus operators as well as innocent commuters at the terminus. It is also reported that the soldiers dragged passengers out of commuter omnibuses and prevented vehicles from leaving the terminus. Three soldiers were arrested in connection with the assaults and ZNA is reported to have launched a probe into the incident.

Harare south

15 August 2006

∑. Wellington Chibebe, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) was b arrested and assaulted at a police roadblock. It is reported that Chibebe was travelling with his family and Police demanded to search his car, supposedly in order to look for cash. Chibebe is said to have advised the police to search on their own. The police are alleged to have said that Chibebe was being uncooperative and they proceeded to assault him before dragging him to Waterfalls Police Station where he was detained in Police cells. It is further alleged that the police later deliberately changed the charges to common assault against a police officer so as to make the issue more serious, given his profile.

Highfield

29 August 2006

∑. Prince Chabuda aged 18, was reportedly shot dead along High Glen Road by plain-clothes police detectives who are reported to have mistaken the vehicle he was travelling in for one that was being used by a gang of robbers. The deceased, who was travelling in a Ford Laser motor vehicle as a backseat passenger, died on the way to Harare central Hospital from gunshot wounds after the detectives, patrolling in an unmarked car, fired on the vehicle when the driver- Emmanuel Chabuda- apparently fearing that there were under attack by carjackers, failed to heed the instruction to stop and sped off. It is reported that the police had been tailing the Laser vehicle after getting reports that a gang of robbers was using an almost identical car in the area. The driver is said to have panicked thinking that the detectives were hijackers. He then drove off at high speed towards High Glen Shopping Centre, resulting in a high-speed chase. Police are reported to have fired some warning shots, which were apparently went unheeded. The detectives then aimed on the car in an attempt to immobilise it, but one bullet hit Prince. Emmanuel then stopped the car and was ordered to drive to Glen Norah Police Station. It is reported that Prince later died on his way to the hospital.

Mbare

14 August 2006

∑.It is reported that on Heroes Day, ZANU PF youths rampaged through Mbare suburb, forcing residents on to buses to attend Heroes Day commemorations. This was intended to boost the number of people who attended the commemorations. It is alleged that the ZANU PF Mbare district secretary Mr Mutowe, warned that those who refused to join the celebrations at the Heroes Shrine would be considered sell-outs and members of the opposition MDC. It is also reported that the ZANU PF youths also disrupted trading at Mupedzanhamo market by barring traders whose names did not appear on their register and accusing them of being sellouts. Some barred traders claimed that the stands at the market hat been allocated on patronage lines. It is also alleged in the report that besides being force marched to the Heroes Acre, residents were also asked to make contributions towards the commemorations.

Mashonaland Central

Bindura

21 August 2006

A woman in Bindura was ordered to leave the area allegedly by some ZANU PF youths. The woman, who claims that her family is a well known supporter of MDC, reports that on the date in question some Zanu PF youths came to their house and ordered that she leave the area. The youths are reportedly to have said that they had been send by the village headman. Meanwhile the victim’s husband was languishing in police custody on trumped up murder charges. The victim alleges that the youths grabbed her by the left thumb and twisted it in a queer position, which was very painful. In trying to wrestle herself away from this grip, she hit the left elbow against the door of her kitchen and the pain was just excruciating.

Mashonaland West

Hurungwe

10 August 2006

∑.It is reported that on the day in question, heavily armed police officers stormed at the government allocated farm of a Member of Parliament, allegedly in search of weapons. The police however found 2 licensed rifles It is alleged that the search was carried out by the police after pressure from the ZANU PF provincial leadership in Mashonaland West who alleged that the Member of Parliament was harbouring weapons at her farm which she got from white commercial farmers through the man she is cohabitating with. The man the Member of Parliament is cohabitating with is allegedly a member of the opposition MDC.

Manyame

4 August 2006

∑. Four leaders from the Christian Alliance who were arrested later released without charge after being questioned about the activities of their organisation. The four arrested were Bishop Levy Kadenge, Reverend Chigwida, Mr. Pious Wakatama and Reverend Magaya and his wife. They were arrested at the Snake Park 20 kilometres outside Harare after a Bulawayo meeting of the Christian Alliance leadership. Alliance coordinator Useni Sibanda told reporters that the police questioned them about the activities of the group after reports that they were planning to form a political party. Sibanda said those reports were false and that the group was apolitical. The police confiscated some documents which Sibanda said were public anyway and he added that the group had no reason to hide anything from the law.

Matebeleland North

Hwange

28 August 2006

∑.It is reported that a rowdy group of youths aligned to the Mutambara Faction of the MDC, besieged MDC offices in Matebeleland North demanding that officials belonging to the Tsvangirai faction vacate the premises. The Anti-Senate faction officials were allegedly threatened with violence if they did not leave the premises. It is also alleged that in the week before this incident, members of the Mutambara Faction had seized a Nissan Hardbody truck from the Tsvangirai faction arguing that the vehicle had been hijacked from the Mutambara faction in Harare. The Police are said to have intervened to prevent skirmishes between the two factions.

NB. A case of wrongful death took place in August when Prince Chabuda was shot dead by plain-clothes police detectives who are reported to have mistaken the vehicle he was travelling in for one that was being used by a gang of robbers. The death has been categorised under murder.

The table below and the graphs on page 3 above depict the number of violations committed on the persons whose circumstances are described in the report. One individual may have been subjected to many violations and thus appear under several categories of violations.

Monthly totals of human rights violations from 1 January 2006 to 31 August 2006

Administrative Map of ZIMBABWE

Zambia

Mozambique

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (also known as the “Human Rights Forum”) is a coalition comprising 16 member organisations. It has been in existence since January 1998 when non-Governmental organisations working in the field of human rights joined together to provide legal and psychosocial assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January 1998.

The Human Rights Forum has now expanded its objectives to assist victims of organised violence, using the following definition:

“Organised violence” means the inter-human infliction of significant avoidable pain and suffering by an organised group according to a declared or implied strategy and/or system of ideas and attitudes. It comprises any violent action, which is unacceptable by general human standards, and relates to the victims’ mental and physical well-being.”

The Human Rights Forum operates a Research and Documentation Unit and offers legal services through the Public Interest Unit of the (formerly the Legal Unit of the ZHRF.)

Core member organisations of the Human Rights Forum are:

• Amani Trust (AT)

• Amnesty International (Zimbabwe) (AI (Z))

• Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)

• Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)

• Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT)

• Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)

• Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ)

• Non-violent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC)

• Transparency International (Zimbabwe) (TI (Z))

• Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO)

• Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR)

• Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET)

• Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)

• Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)

• Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)

• Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)

The Human Rights Forum can be contacted through:

The Administrator, P O Box 9077, Harare – email: admin@hrforum.co.zw

The Public Interest Unit, P O Box 9077, Harare – email: legal@hrforum.co.zw

The Research Unit, P O Box 9077, Harare – email: research@hrforum.co.zw

Address: 8^th Floor Bluebridge North, Eastgate, Harare; Telephone: 250511 - Fax: 250494

The International Liaison Office, 56- 64 Leonard Street London EC 2A 4LT– email: IntLO@hrforumzim.com

Telephone+44-20-7065-0945

Website: www.hrforumzim.com

Previous reports of the Human Rights Forum can be found on our website.

To report political violence incidents occurring to yourself or someone you know, please contact us on the above addresses.