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Cases of Political Violence

Note: The identities of victims that have not been published in the press and are not public officials are protected by the use of initials.

HARARE

Chitungwiza

9 September 2002

• OM claims that he was assaulted by Zanu PF militia at his home for supporting the MDC and for intending to contest in Ward 15 in the council elections held in September. Around 1300hrs, Zanu PF militia came in two trucks to the victim's house in Unit D, Seke and ordered the victim to come with them. They beat him up with sticks when he refused to comply. The assailants later fled, and the police came and took the victim to the hospital where the cut on his head was stitched.
• About thirty people arrived at HF's house at Lynn Farm, forced entry, and dragged him into a truck amid kicks, and slaps. One Mr. Chitota, who apparently was the "boss" of the kidnappers, met them along the way and took the victim to the farm compound where they chanted anti-MDC songs and slogans. The victim was called a sell out who deserved to be kicked out of his farm. After about an hour the neighbours brought about six war veterans and some police officers to the victim's residence. The police took a statement from the victim and they took him to Beatrice Police Station. The member-in-charge informed him that the war veterans had been annoyed by the client who had ploughed down their crops. HF explained that he had authority of the lands committee to continue farming and was therefore set free.

12 September 2002

• Moses Chitindo, a police officer and four other police officers entered OM's bedroom and searched through the room. Having found nothing Chitindo was ordered to dress up. They informed him that they were looking for guns. The victim, a youth secretary for MDC, was taken to Chitungwiza police station and interrogated on Kitsiyatota's whereabouts. Kitsiyatota is an MDC activist being sought in connection with the murder of Ali Khan Manjengwa in Mbare. He was then taken to Harare Central Police Station together with three others who had been captured, and was handed over to Detective Inspector Dhowa who interrogated him again about Kitsiyatota and the possession of guns. On professing ignorance, he was assaulted under the feet whilst in leg irons. He was ordered to undress, was taken underground where more assaults were perpetrated. He was forced to confess at gunpoint that he had received military training in Norton. He was blindfolded, had a gun poked into his mouth and was taken to Goromonzi Police Station where he was forced to confess to the whereabouts of Kitsiyatota under the application of electric shocks. Under duress the victim then told them where Kitsiyatota's wife was. No charges were pressed against Chitindo. He suffered injuries under the feet cheek, buttocks and arms.
• TT, an MDC activist reports that CIO agents arrested him, on allegations that he had a pending case in Marondera where he used to stay. On their way to Chitungwiza Police Station, the victim was asked about Kitsiyatota's whereabouts. Mwanjaranji, a CIO agent assaulted the victim with sticks under the feet, open hands and fists before the assailants arrested 3 other MDC activists. Inspector Dhowa and lnspector Dhliwayo also interrogated the victim at Harare Central Police Station, with Inspector Dhowa stepping on the victim's knee with booted feet. On 14 September the victim was forced to sign an affidavit, which stated how the victim knew Kitsiyatota, suspected to have shot Ali Khan Manjengwa, a Zanu PF activist, in Mbare. The victim was released on 16 September 2002, and was told to report to the police on 18 September 2002, and to bring information on the whereabouts of Kitsiyatota on 20 September 2002. No charges were laid against him.

22 September 2002

• ST was severely assaulted by Zanu PF supporters for allegedly intending to contest in Ward 15 on an MDC ticket. He currently complains of pains on the back, legs and hands.

25 September 2002

• A group of Zanu PF youths came to RM's house looking for her husband in Unit D, Seke at around 5pm. As he was away, they took the wife instead to their candidate's house, C.M Chikwirakomo, in Seke. He was the candidate for the rural district council elections on a Zanu PF ticket. There, the victim was assaulted with sjamboks and a plank. A stone was also thrown on her face. She was only released around 6pm after a whole day's torture. (refer to Case 2 in the photographs document)

Harare Central

3 September 2002

• Tapiwa Mashakada, the MDC MP, was arrested on suspicion that he took part in the bombing of the Voice of the People Offices in Milton Park. He was not charged and was released. It is alleged that the police got an anonymous tip to the effect that Mashakada had taken part in the bombing of the premises, a private radio station not licenced by the government. This came twenty-one days after the bombing of the Daily News offices by unidentified people.

Mbare East

9 September 2002

• ST was at Magaba Bakers Inn in Mbare when suddenly a mob of Zanu PF supporters surrounded him chanting anti MDC slogans, assaulting him and calling the victim names. They alleged that he was one of Mr. Hakata's supporters. Mr. Hakata is the MDC Councilor for Harare East. ST was clapped on his left cheek with an open hand. As he tried to flee the area, one of the assailants struck the victim's left eye with an object. He was kicked several times on the chest with booted feet.

13 September 2002

• LC was having dinner in his room around 2000hrs when three Zanu PF youths arrived at his home and demanded to know why he had not attended a Zanu PF meeting which was being held at that particular moment. They dragged him downstairs where ten more Zanu PF supporters assaulted him with fan belts on his back. He was kicked several times with booted feet on the left, on the chest and on the right arm. They stole $800 from the victim, an ID card, and his hat. The victim was then dragged to a Zanu PF meeting which was being held between block twelve and thirteen at Shawasha flats. Later the victim was released and went to report the case to the police. The police, however, did not take any action.

Mbare West

3 September 2002

• Linos Mushonga's brother, Adrian, alleged that about nine policemen from the CID stormed into their house, woke them up and assaulted the victim, his brother and a maid, demanding that Mushonga surrender the pistol that was used to kill Ali Khan Manjengwa, who was shot in one block of the Nenyere flats in Mbare while coming from a meeting. He was a prominent Zanu PF activist who campaigned for the President, Robert Mugabe, in the March 2002 presidential elections. The assailants demanded that Linos Mushonga hand them over the keys to the house so they could search for the pistol that was used to kill Manjengwa. The victim and his brother were then taken to Waterfalls Police Station where they were assaulted with clenched fists and booted feet accusing Adrian Mushonga of concealing Linos' alleged activities. Adrian was interrogated for about four days in police cells, he came back blindfolded with a military camouflage shirt, wet all over, raising suspicions that he had passed out at some stage as they assaulted him along the way. The shirt he was wearing when he was arrested was tainted with dry blood from days of torture. Linos Mushonga sustained a dislocated ankle, bruises and lacerations from the brutal police torture. It is also alleged that Linos Mushonga's maid was assaulted by the CID officers who ordered her to produce all the keys to Mushonga's house. She alleged that the assailants chased her all over the house and turned things up side down while some of them assaulted Linos Mushonga in the other room. This case of assault follows the murder of Zanu PF activist Ali Khan Manjengwa,
• About twenty Zanu PF supporters were going around with sticks, iron bars and empty bottles assaulting innocent civilians. They allegedly attacked Tongesai Goremucheche, an MDC supporter, at Nenyere flats. He sustained a swollen cheek and a cut on his face. The victim alleged that he could not retaliate, as he believed the police would come after him. Goremucheche reported the case to officers at Matapi Police Station and it has been confirmed by one of the officers that investigations are underway. This follows the murder of Ali Khan Manjengwa, who was murdered in August 2002 in unclear circumstances in Mbare
• A female informal trader at Mupedzanhamo flea market in Mbare was assaulted by unnamed Zanu PF youths on accusations that she had ululated when she heard that Ali Khan Manjengwa had been murdered.

11 September 2002

• Zanu PF youths allegedly assaulted AM for not attending a Zanu PF meeting held at Shawasha flats. The group of about twenty went to the victim’s room, forced down the door and allegedly assaulted him with sjamboks, booted feet and open hands. AM was taken to Harare Central Police Station and was accused of being part of the group which had killed Ali Khan Manjengwa. The victim was then released on 14 September 2002 around 10:00am. He was ordered to report back to the police on 16 September 2002. Statements were recorded but no charges were pressed against the victim. The victim claims that he lost $26 400 during the assault.

MANICALAND

Buhera North/South

September 2002

• Reports have shown that at least eleven teachers have not reported for school since the beginning of the third term, citing rampant intimidation, death threats and assaults by Zanu PF supporters and war veterans. Mr. Muti of Mutasa Secondary School was seriously assaulted while his wife Mrs. Muti was intimidated to the extent that she was forced to flee the area. Murabanda and the other teachers claim that they were assaulted and intimidated by Zanu PF vigilantes over the school holidays and some of them were threatened with death. Svinurai, a teacher at the school, is also alleged to have fled the area to Harare. Stanislous Chikukwa, a national executive member of the ZNLWVA based in Manicaland, dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign against the war veterans. Takavafira Zhou, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, said that teachers must seriously consider putting the victimisation to an end by any means necessary.

18 September 2002

• SM claims that he was severely assaulted with heavy logs by about sixteen Zanu PF supporters who came to his house and asked for his MDC party credentials. Having handed them over, the victim was allegedly assaulted on the soles of the feet, the back and shoulders, only releasing him go after three hours. The victim now complains of a painful back, chest and feet.

Buhera North

12 September 2002

• AM, an MDC activist and Ward Vice Chairman for Buhera, was herding his cattle towards the kraals when seven Zanu PF activists: Obert Windizi, Mari Khumalo, Hosiah Tsuro, Lovemore Nyamayaro, Taurai Nyarume, Murambiwa Tigoni and Mubayi approached him holding voters' rolls which they had confiscated from an aspiring MDC councilor. The victim was accused of including their names in the rolls and was allegedly assaulted with sticks whilst lying on his stomach and was beaten on the buttocks and back. He confronted the incumbent councilor on the violence in the area and his subsequent assault. However the councilor professed ignorance. The case was not reported to the police.

Chipinge North

September 2002

• It was reported that Gift Dhliwayo, a traditional healer of Tanganda Halt in Chipinge, was asleep in his house with his family at around 3am, when about twenty-five Zanu PF supporters attacked his house, destroying property worth about $700 000. They threw stones and bricks at the house, injuring his daughter on the back. Asbestos roofing sheets, windows and traditional herbs were also destroyed in the attack. The attackers reduced the hut to ashes and there were stones and glass all over the place when the reporters arrived the following morning to take a report. The assailants threatened to kill him and his family because he sympathises with the opposition party, MDC. The victim alleges that he reported the matter to the police but nothing had been done as yet. Dhliwayo identified two of the assailants and although he handed over their names to the police, the suspects were not convicted and the victim actually saw them boasting about the attack that same afternoon, walking around the township. Dhliwayo entered the political arena during the presidential elections when he joined the opposition MDC. During the ensuing bloody campaigns, his hut was set on fire and property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed and about $23 000 cash was destroyed.

Makoni East

24 September 2002

• John Hwenhira of the MDC and his wife were severely assaulted and left for dead by suspected Zanu PF supporters. No reason was given for the assault. Pishai Muchauraya, MDC provincial spokesman, has insisted that Zanu PF vigilantes were on the warpath against the MDC in the area.

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