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POLITICAL VIOLENCE REPORT 1-30 September 2002

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Cases of Political Violence (Cont'd)

MIDLANDS

Chirumhanzu, Mberengwa, Zvishavane

September 2002

  • In the Midlands province, only fifty-seven MDC candidates had the courage to stand their ground to run in the September 2002 rural district and council elections, against ninety-three Zanu PF supporters. Chirumhanzu constituency was one of the most affected in the Midlands Province. Reports have revealed that even those who have braved the threats of violence were finding it difficult to openly campaign as rowdy Zanu PF supporters often disrupted their rallies with the police taking no action. Opposition MDC candidates were harassed and threatened with unspecified action if they contested in the September 2002 rural district and council.

Shurugwi

September 2002

  • Dave Wilson received threats from Chief Mapendere and some Zanu PF youths, ordering him to leave the area and emigrate to England if he was to insist on representing the MDC in the forthcoming council elections. He later withdrew his candidature. Thirty-six opposition MDC candidates in Midlands South reportedly withdrew their candidature from the September 2002 rural district and council elections fearing for their lives after being threatened with violence by Zanu PF supporters.
  • Herbert Mhlanga was allegedly forced to withdraw his candidature by Zanu PF supporters in the area and was allegedly forced to surrender all MDC t-shirts and cards following unspecified threats from Chief Mapendere. Thirty-six MDC candidates have been forced to surrender their candidature by Zanu PF supporters in Midlands South. This came about in the run up to the September 2002 rural district and council elections. In Shurugwi, MDC was only left with only six candidates in the twenty -three wards that were contested as the rest withdrew from the election run.
  • Njere Chou, Farai Sibindwani, Muhle Mudewa and Deliwe Marima claimed that Zanu PF supporters summoned them to the nomination court for daring to contest the election against their Zanu PF headmen. What transpired at the court was however not reported.

9 September 2002

  • Joshua Tongogara and other MDC candidates in the rural district council elections had been held hostage at their homes by suspected ruling Zanu PF party militants. They were allegedly forced to withdraw their candidature in the upcoming rural and district council elections. Lyson Mlambo, MDC provincial spokesman for Midlands, alleged that all the MDC candidates' homes in Shurugwi had been sealed off by marauding Zanu PF youths to ensure that they did not reach out to the constituencies. They were forced to withdraw their candidature before the election. It is alleged that Zanu PF military tactics in the run up to the rural district and council elections reached alarming levels and the MDC activists feared for the lives of their candidates. Joshua Tongogara is the last brother of the late Josiah Tongogara, former Zanu PF liberation fighter, and it is alleged that the whole family defected to MDC because the ruling Zanu PF had neglected the mother of Josiah Tongogara, yet Josiah had fought tirelessly and led the fighters into battle against the Smith Regime just before Independence.

List of deaths reported as having resultant from political violence: 1 January 2002 – 30 September 2002
NB: This list is subject to update and correction as and when new/additional information becomes available.

Name, Political Affiliation if known, Date of Death, Province, Constituency

  1. BHEBHE, Newman (MDC), February 2002, Matabeleland North, Nkayi
  2. CHATUNGA, Richard, (MDC), 20 January 2002, Masvingo, Bikita East
  3. CHIDARI Micah, (Zanu PF), 2 April 2002, Mashonaland West, Mhondoro
  4. CHITEHWE, Mr, (ZNLWVA), January 2002, Harare, Hatfield
  5. CHIBVAMUDEVE, Nikoniari, (MDC), 21 September 2002, Mashonaland West, Hurungwe West
  6. DUBE, Nqobizita, (MDC), 1 March 2002, Bulawayo, Nkulumane
  7. FORD, Terry, (commercial farmer), 18 March 2002, Mashonland West, Mhondoro
  8. GATSI, Ernest, (MDC) 19 March 2002, Mashonaland Central, Guruve North
  9. GWAZE, Tafirenyika, (MDC polling agent Rukwenjere), 12 March 2002, Mashonaland East, Mutoko South
  10. GWIDZIMA, Noah, (Zanu PF), 4 April 2002, Manicaland, Makoni North
  11. JEFTHA, Peter, 3 March 2002, Harare, Harare South
  12. JEKA, Petros, (MDC polling agent), 4 April 2002, Masvingo, Masvingo North
  13. JERANYAMA, Donald, (MDC polling agent), 25 March 2002, Manicaland, Mutasa
  14. KATSAMUDANGA, Tichaona (MDC), 5 February 2002, Harare, Harare North
  15. KUMALO, Khape, (MDC), 6 February 2002, Mashonaland West, Mhondoro
  16. KUVHEYA, Lawrence, (MDC), March 2002, Mashonaland East, Chikomba
  17. MADHOBHA, Tipason, (MDC polling agent), 2 May 2002, Midlands, Gokwe Central
  18. MAHUNI, Funny, 13 March 2002, Midlands, Kwekwe
  19. MANJENGWA, Khan Ali, (Zanu PF), 22 August 2002, Harare, Mbare West
  20. MANYARA, Owen, (MDC), 17 March 2002, Mashonaland Central, Mount Darwin
  21. MAPHOSA, Richard, (MDC), 20 January 2002, Masvingo, Bikita East
  22. MAPHOSA, Stephen, (Zanu PF), 2 February 2002, Harare, Budiriro
  23. MAPINGURE, Atnos, , 9 January 2002, Masvingo, Zaka
  24. MASARIRA, Gibson, (Zanu PF), 9 January 2002, Masvingo, Zaka
  25. MASEVA, Amos Misheck, (ZNLWVA), 8 March 2002, Masvingo, Gutu North
  26. MATOPE, Kenneth, (MDC), 13 January 2002, Mashonaland Central, Guruve
  27. MIJONI, Simwanja, 15 January 2002, Midlands, Kwekwe
  28. MOYO, Henry, (MDC), 7 February 2002, Masvingo, Masvingo Central
  29. MPOFU, Muchenje, (MDC), 19 January 2002, Midlands, Mberengwa East
  30. MTETWA, Davis (MDC), 27 April 2002, Harare, Zengeza
  31. MUDZIMUIREMA Cosamu, (MDC), 16 July 2002, Manicaland, Buhera South
  32. MUKAKAREI, Tabudamo, (MDC), 14 February 2002, Masvingo, Masvingo North
  33. Munyaradzi (no surname given) (farm worker), 14 February 2002, Mashonaland East, Marondera East
  34. MUNIKWA, Isaac, (Zanu PF), 17 January 2002, Masvingo, Zaka
  35. MUPAWAENDA, Takatukwa Mamhova, 16 February 2002, Mashonaland West, Zvimba South
  36. MUTEMARINGA, Fungisai, (MDC), 27 January 2002, Mashonaland East, Murehwa
  37. NCUBE, Richard , (MDC), 18 July 2002, Midlands, Zhombe
  38. NCUBE, Sambani (MDC), 17 March 2002, Matabeleland North, Hwange East
  39. NCUBE, Mthokozisi, (MDC), 26 January 2002, Bulawayo, Pelandaba
  40. NEMAIRE, Solomon, (MDC), 23 January 2002, Manicaland, Makoni
  41. NGAMIRA, Genus, (MDC), 5 May 2002, Mashonaland Central, Bindura
  42. NGUNDU, Shepherd, (MDC), 5 February 2002, Mashonaland Central, Mount Darwin South
  43. NHITSA, Takesure, (MDC), 20 February 2002, Mashonaland Central, Rushinga
  44. NYANZIRA, Tariro, (Zanu PF), 8 February 2002, Manicaland, Buhera North
  45. PILOSI, Simon, (MDC), 26 March 2002, Mashonaland West, Zvimba South
  46. ROMIO, Edwin, (MDC polling agent), March 2002, Mashonaland East, Mutoko
  47. SANYAMAHWE, Kuziva, (MDC), 18 January 2002, Mashonaland East, Murehwa South
  48. SHELTON, Lloyd, (Zanu PF) 27 February 2002, Mashonaland East, Chikomba
  49. SIBANDA, Charles, (MDC), 2 March 2002, Midlands, Zhombe
  50. SIBANDA, James, (MDC), February 2002, Matabeleland North, Nkayi
  51. SIBINDI, Halaza, (MDC), 30 January 2002, Matabeleland North, Tsholotsho
  52. SIBINDI, Joseph, (MDC) January 2002, Bulawayo
  53. SICWE, Jameson, (MDC), 29 January 2002, Matabeleland North, Lupane
  54. Unnamed, (2), (farm guards), 23 January 2002, Masvingo, Mwenezi
  55. Unnamed, 26 February 2002, Bulawayo, Makokoba
  56. VIKAVEKA, Darlington, (MDC), 15 March 2002, Mashonaland East, Marondera East
  57. WHITE, Fanuel, (MDC polling agent), 29 March 2002, Mashonaland Central, Guruve North
    58.

Total of 58 deaths
(Political affiliation: MDC- 38; Zanu PF- 8, ZNLWVA- 2, Unknown/none- 10)

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