Showing posts with label Human rights violations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human rights violations. Show all posts
Friday, 20 October 2017
Update from Zimbabwe Election Support Network
20 October 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe Phase One of the Biometric Voter Registration exercise in all 10 provinces of the country. There are six days left before the close of voter registration under Phase One and ZESN has made the following observations over the past seven days:
Misinformation on the BVR process
ZESN has received reports of intimidation, especially in rural areas, whereby registrants are being misinformed about the BVR and its purpose. Potential registrants are being informed that having registered using the system it is possible to know who they will vote for in the 2018 elections. These cases were reported in Mudzi North Ward 1, Murewa North Ward 4 and Muzarabani Ward 3 among other areas. ZESN notes that the misinformation and intimidation of citizens is a serious violation of the right to free participation in electoral process that threatens the credibility of the whole electoral process. In addition, ZESN has received reports of registrants being forced to submit their names and details such as serial numbers of voter registration slips to Ward chairpersons and other community leaders as a way of intimidating them into believing that their voting choices will be traceable in the 2018 election. ZESN therefore urges ZEC to conduct comprehensive voter education and information to ensure that citizens are well informed about the BVR process to demystify some of these shenanigans by politicians.
Lack of required documentation
ZESN observers have reported cases of people failing to register in areas such as Matebeleland provinces and other remote areas because they do not have birth certificates and national IDs. ZESN urges the government to consider waivering the fees for obtaining birth certificates in order to facilitate easy acquisition of National IDs by potential registrants especially in remote areas.
Turned away registrants
ZESN observed that some citizens intending to register were turned away on the basis of presenting defaced identity documents, for being ‘Aliens’, failure to produce proof of residence and producing wrong form of identification such as drivers’ licenses. The government must adequately publicize the procedures for regularizing the citizenship status of citizens classified as ‘Aliens’ to enable them to register to vote.
Mobile registration centres
Whilst ZESN appreciates the setting up of mobile registration centres at places like the Parliament of Zimbabwe building, old people’s homes, hospitals and institutions housing people with disabilities; the Network calls upon ZEC to adequately publicize the facilities in all the 10 provinces to ensure that eligible citizens can register to vote.
Issues with proof of residence and Voter Registration Affidavits
The Network continues to observe that ZEC Commissioners of Oaths are not always available at registration centres resulting in citizens requiring this service either returning home without registering or being charged for the commissioning of their affidavits. Instances of challenges with proof of residence were reported in Nyanga North Ward 5 Kambarami village, the Village Head is reported to be demanding that villagers who require proof of residence pay $5.
Turnout
According to statistics released by the ZEC, as of 19 October 2017, a total of 814,181 people had registered at 1890 registration centres under Phase One. ZESN has also observed that significantly high numbers have been recorded in areas like Harare and Midlands while areas like Matebeleland provinces have experienced very low turnout. ZESN observed that at Sinansengwe Business centre in Binga North ward 4 not a single person presented themselves at the registration centre on 19 October 2017. Low turnout figures were also recorded in Mashonaland East at Shamba Dip tank in Maramba Pfungwe Ward 6, only two people registered on 18 October, while at Kanzire Primary School in the same ward, only one person registered. Yesterday, at Maramba Primary school, 60 people; males 28 males and 32 females registered. Some centres that recorded high turnout yesterday are as follows: Seke Primary School in Chitungwiza South Ward 18, 252 (190 were female and 62 male), at Remembrance Hall in Mbare, 217 registered (167 female and 50 male). In Midlands at Chinyenyetu Primary School Gokwe Nembudziya, 164 people were registered on 18 and 19 October 2017.
Efficiency of the registration process:
At registration centres where ZESN has observers, ZEC registration officials are reported to be following the stipulated registration steps including correctly capturing the biometric features of fingerprints and facial photographs. At most of the centres, most of the registrants were successfully issued with voter registration slips at the end of the process. ZESN received reports of challenges with the process at Mashumba Tent Ward 8 in Bulawayo Central where names of registered people disappeared from the kit resulting in officers calling upon technicians retrieve the information which was successfully done. ZESN notes that there is no uniformity in the provision of registration statistics by registration officials with some referring observers to the provincial supervisors for daily statistics.
BVR Kit malfunction
ZESN received some reports of kits malfunction at some of the centres. On 19 October at Sango centre in Zengeza West Ward 12, the BVR kit number 0619 malfunctioned and despite efforts by the technicians to fix the challenge was said to be requiring a new power box. In Chipinge South Ward 28 at Chusuma Primary school, the BVR kit broke down and had to be taken for repairs, it stopped the registration process for the rest of the day and potential registrants eventually gave up and went back home after waiting for two or more hours. Another incident of kit malfunction was reported at Musikawamatanda in Ward 4 Chiredzi West on 18 October 2017. ZESN urges the ZEC to publicize procedures outlining how incidents such as kit failure and malfunctions are to be dealt with including protocols for data backup for malfunctioning kits.
Missing Constituency on BVR database
The Member of Parliament for Mudzi South has challenged ZEC to include his constituency on the BVR database having noted that it was missing under all the four phases. The electoral Commission is reported to be in the process of rectifying the anomaly that was highlighted by the MP.
Conclusion
ZESN reiterates its calls for citizens to turn out in their numbers and participate in this vital process. In addition, the creation of a conducive electoral environment will ensure the full enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and eliminate political and intimidation of voters. ZEC must amplify efforts in providing comprehensive and inclusive voter education and mobilisation for voter registration to increase participation and demystify the myths surrounding the BVR process.
Facebook: Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
Twitter handle:@ZESN1
Website: www.zesn.org.zw
#register2vote #BVRZW #usasarire #ungasaleli
PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE
ZESN Chairperson Mr Andrew Makoni: +263772234891
ZESN Vice-Chairperson Mr Dumisani Nkomo: +263779617926
ZESN Director Mrs Rindai Chipfunde Vava: +263712415902
zesn2011@zesn.net, info@zesn.net
Thursday, 6 April 2017
2018 Election: Sanyati residents live in fear of State sponsored Political Violence
2018 Election: Sanyati residents live in fear of State sponsored Political Violence
As the nation braces for the 2018 polls, Sanyati residents in the Midlands province said they are living in constant fear of state sponsored politically motivated violence. They fear being victimised for supporting the opposition in what is reminiscent of the 2008 reign of terror where hundreds of opposition supporters were murdered. The ugly beast is again in season as Zanu-PF has allegedly already unleashed its weapon of choice, as evidenced by the setting up of terror bases by the Zanu-PF militias who are already toyi-toying wielding dangerous weapons in the area.Visibly panicking villagers gave horrifying tales of how they are already being cowed into submission by the Zanu-PF terror squads and added that these threats evoke the 2008 memories. One after the other, they narrated the trauma they have gone through since the 2002 election and the succeeding elections. One villager who chose to remain anonymous for fear of further victimisation had this to say, "Tiri kugara tichityisidzirwa kunzi tichakuitayi zvatakaita 2008." She further went on to narrate her 2008 ordeal of how she lost all her property to Zanu-PF arsonists in 2008. "Ndakapisirwa musha ndaenda kugraduation yemwana kuGweru ndikazoita zvekufonerwa nacouncillor kuti musha wakapiswa." Apparently the councillor was Zanu-PF.
She further went on to bemoan the partisan food distribution saying "We are being denied inputs because of our known affiliation to MDC-T. I am a political activist for the opposition and my name has been removed from the food distribution list. Without an iota of shame, our village head openly told us to go and get inputs from 'Tsvangirai baba venyu' inferring that the current distribution was from their political father President Mugabe.Tinoda kuti zvinhu zvakaita sechikafu, mbeu nefertiliser zvinobva kuhurumende zvisvike zvisina mutupo kana zita reparty." She said as women, they are always the victims and are also the most affected by political violence or other human rights violations. "As women we bear the brunt of these violations, because of joblessness and the economic meltdown we face and endure the wrath of these violations." She lamented.
Another victim of this Zanu-PF tyranny from ARDA ward 18 intimated that the neighbourhood watch committee members (vana ndinindamubata) and youth officers drawn from the famed Boarder Gezi national youth service recently underwent training by the "maguta" soldiers to weed out the opposition in the area in preparation for the forthcoming 2018 election. He further went on to say that "We don't know the duties and responsibility of these youth officers in our community save that they terrorise us. We are living in fear because 'takamborohwa, kupisirwa misha uye vamwe vakauraiwa asi takashaya protection zvikangorova zvakadero saka tave kutya kuti tinodzokororwa futi." She referred to Samson Abedinico Matore who was brutally murdered in 2002 at Neuso Growthpoint in Sanyati. He pointed out that well known notorious Zanu-PF assailants "Tsanga, Chucknorris, Pembedza, Zebra Kubvoruno and Dyodyo" in 2008 terrorised villagers but up to this day they are still moving scot free. They are back to their wanton ways of intimidating villagers because they are the law unto themselves. Our pleas are not being heard because the law enforcement agents in Zimbabwe have chosen to act unconstitutionally and side with Zanu-PF hooligans and this has allowed Zanu-PF activists to operate above the law and commit a series of atrocities.
Several other victims interviewed bemoaned the invisibility of international observers on the ground in remote areas such as Sanyati during election time. One victim had this to say "Tinoda maInternational observers vauye vaone zvinoitika kuno kumaruwa vagonosvitsawo mberi zvavanenge vaona." He said the 'sabhuku nevanhu vake' tactic was being used to criminally frog-march subjects to Zanu-PF meetings, and ultimately to the polls so as to absolutely make sure that they vote for Zanu-PF. He said it is a deliberate tactic by the Zanu-PF government to ignore the poor state of rural roads in remote parts of the country so that international observers would not access these places where the party perceives to garner much of its grassroots support and coerces voters to vote against their will.One war veteran and village head, bemoaned the disbanding of JOMIC and gave a nostalgic tale of how he used to support Zanu-PF since the war of liberation but has now since jumped ship to join the opposition MDC-T because the regime has long since abandoned the ideals of the war of liberation that brought independence. He intimated that he held several Zanu-PF party posts and had worked as a civil servant for forty (40) years but said 'ndakatorerwa plot ndichinzi uri munhu weMDC, uri mutengesi.' We operate under very strict orders and we are forced to commandeer people to Zanu-PF meetings but as a headman I feel and I know it is wrong.
These threats alone really show that "leopards do not change their spots." This leaves the electorate with a lot of questions and extremely worried because Zanu-pf is sending a clear message that they do not want the 2018 election to be free and fair. Zanu-PF uses security forces, traditional leaders and party youths to violate civic human rights. Violence has been woven through the intricate fabric of Zimbabwe's political history. Cases of political violence in Zimbabwe have largely been as a result of the resolve by the regime to ensure President Robert Mugabe stays in office at all costs. History is clear how President Robert Mugabe has thrived on unleashing war and terror on his opponents and innocent unarmed civilians as evidenced by the Gukurahundi atrocities that massacred 20 000 lives and the 2008 political violence that resulted in the deaths of 200 opposition activists. It is indeed a shame that Zimbabwe for long has suffered from state sponsored violence at its sadistic height towards every election and as 2018 approaches. The ugly beast is again already in season.
Alfred Towo is a Zimbabwean freelance Journalist, an independent analyst, and opinion writer. Feedback on aliphytowo@gmail.com or on twitter @TowoAlfred
Thursday, 9 March 2017
Title: People subjected to a living hell by a traditional leader!
UMA- People of Muriel Mine are crying foul over the interference of Chief Katizagombo in Muriel Mine Primary and Muriel Mine High School matters. During an SDC meeting held on the 6th of March 2017 at Muriel Mine High the chief pointed out that all fees defaulters will be dragged to his court where he charges $30 for an appearance despite being the defendant if they fail to pay at least $10 by the 20th of March 2017. He echoed the same sentiments during a meeting at Muriel Mine Primary on the 9th of March 2017. When the majority of Zimbabwean rural population is living in abject poverty, a traditional leader has a clean conscience charging such high court charges and making such threats to suffering people.
Muriel Mine is a gold mining community, the mine used to be owned by LONRHO before closure in the year 2000. The mine was reopened by Pan African Mining in 2001 and latter sold to Minister Gapare under the 49/51 indigenization policy. Since the coming of Gapare the mine employees have not known full pay and at times go for months without pay. Most residents in Muriel Mine are living on food aid from the Ministry of Welfare. It was a known tradition in mines that education was not regarded as important since all school leavers and drop outs would be employed in the mines. To a people that are just emerging from such an era of darkness where education was not regarded as important, making such threats and demands would impact heavily on the children. If too much pressure is exerted on these poor parents the only option left will be to drop their children off school, a scenario that would not be healthy. The surrounding farms are former white commercial farmers farms, people in these farms have been reduced to casual labourers who are seasonally employed at times for no pay. They have no option but to work even for nothing lest they risk being evicted from the only homes they have known for nearly two decades. Such farm people can only get money to pay for fees after harvests, stipulating an earlier payment date would just be inhuman to the poor parents.
"I will just take my children off school rather than getting summoned by the chief and get charged such large amounts when I'm struggling to even provide sadza for my family!" said a bitter parent who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
The people of the area are living under a harsh traditional ruler who finds pleasure in threatening and siphoning money from people who live on less than a dollar per day. Such chiefs take advantage of the vulnerability and ignorance of many of the rural people. During our workshops in Mt Darwin and Muzarabani we enlightened such disadvantaged people of their rights as enshrined by the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Farmers used to enjoy farming in this fertile area but it is no longer the case since there is now too much interference from the chief. A tobacco farmer complained of being fined for reaping his tobacco on a Thursday which the chief declared a traditional day of rest (chisi). When the government is placing so much importance on agribusiness then where do such primitive laws emanate from? The chief is one of many chiefs that have been installed recently for political purposes and he takes pride in being partisan threatening anyone who supports opposition politics with eviction.
"Kurima kwacho kwakutonetsa nekuti mimwe mitemo yave kutibata yaifanirwa kunge ichibata vanhu vari kumaruzevha vasingatore kurima sebasa" ( Farming is becoming impossible due to some laws that are being introduced, such laws should apply to former reserves peasant subsistence farmers not us agribusiness people) complained another farmer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Such is the daily life of rural Zimbabweans, telling their stories is just a hope that one day they will find a hearing ear.
Tell us your stories and we will let the world hear your plights.
Get in touch with UMA on www.facebook.com/umthunzi49, www.twitter.com/umthunzi49 or umthunzi49.blogspot.com
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
CORRUPTION AND PERSONALISATION OF FOOD AID
The issue of corruption is widespread in most rural areas where welfare officers responsible for food aid distribution are engaging in various forms of corruption. It is so disheartening to see these officers demanding various amounts of money ranging from US$2 to $6 from poor needy villagers who live on less than US$1 per day. Those that can not afford the amount are left to starve yet they are the rightful beneficiaries of the food aid program. Welfare officers are personalising food aid to an extent of deciding on who to receive aid who not to depending on their relationship with the person.
A villager who opted for anonymity reported that most of these welfare officers are relatives of councillors and village heads so they have a strong political as well as traditional backing, trying to expose them will be a waste of time. This has also been echoed by almost all beneficiaries from ward 30, Zvimba North, where the councillor has strong ties with all welfare officers; some being his concubines and some his political allies.
UMA is appealing to members of the public to report such cases to the police or to make a report via this platform or our Facebook page so that we make sure justice has been served!
Zanu PF councillor order government distributed maize to be given to party members alone
Heal Zimbabwe Trust has reported that recently in Buhera West ward 10a councillor told the villagers that the food being distributed by government in the area would be given to Zanu PF members only.The trust said on February 23, Councillor Garikai Marova held a meeting at Chief Chimombe's residence and announced that the maize that he received from Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to distribute to community members was going to be distributed to Zanu PF supporters only.
"He also said that if opposition party supporters wanted to receive the maize, they should purchase Zanu PF membership cards that cost $3," said the trust."Councillor Marova also announced that all Village heads should compile names of all suspected opposition party members from their wards and submit to him."
 Efforts to get a comment from Councillor Seremwe were fruitless as his mobile phone was switched off.
Zanu PF legislator threaten villagers with starvation if they do not vote his party in 2018
Mt Darwin West Legislator Banwell Seremwe has threatened villagers with starvation and violence if they do not vote for his party Zanu PF in the 2018 elections.The MP made the threats in Mt Darwin ward 36.
Heal Zimbabwe Trust reported that on the 28th of February 2017, Mt Darwin West Legislator, Banwell Seremwe threatened people in his constituency with violence and food aid withdrawal in case Zanu PF loses elections in 2018.
"At a meeting held at Dotito Rural Council, Seremwe said that if people vote for the opposition party, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) in the 2018 elections, they will be denied food aid," said the trust.
"He also threatened people with violence if they fail to vote for Zanu PF in the 2018 elections," said the trust.
Efforts to contact Hon Seremwe were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.
SAY NO TO XENOPHOBIA
UMA condemns the xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals going on in South Africa.Violence for whatever reason is not justifiable in the eyes of both man and God."Jehovah...hates anyone who loves violence"-Psalms 11:5.Dear brethren let us be careful lest we invite God's wrath upon ourselves and generations to come.
Let us love one another as commanded by our Saviour Jesus Christ. Africa we are one people its just politicians that seperated you from your brother by a razor wire and called you South Africans and me Zambian and him Zimbabwean. We need each other Africans no country can survive on its own.
SAY NO TO XENOPHOBIA!
Saturday, 4 March 2017
Political Violence
There have been reports of people being beaten by alleged state security in Raffingora, Zvimba North. It is alleged that state security last Sunday gave a thorough beating to some guys who had tried to practice their right to freedom from being forced to attend political meetings. The Constituency has been busy with ZANU PF rebuilding cells and dissolving and forming new branch committees. Failure to attend such meetings has always resulted in some members of the communities being victimized.
Zvimba North is a ZANU PF stronghold and consists mainly of resettlement areas. The MP for the constituency is Dr IMC Chombo who has maintained his grip on power through the use of intimidation such as employing the services of the state security and using traditional leaders to threaten the electorate. Chombo's main rival in the constituency is his ex wife Marian who is the Provincial Chair for former VP Mujuru's party.
More to follow! Like and share, we will keep you updated no human right violation shall go unreported!
Thursday, 23 February 2017
Hate Speech
It was to UMA agent's utter shock that a member of the Zanu Pf youth league chanted " Pamberi nerufu rwaTsvangirai" ( Forward with Tsvangirai's death) to a clapping and ululating crowd. What are we promoting as a nation!
Chapter 4 Section 61 of the Zimbabwe Constitution enshrines the right to Freedom of Expression and Media but does not extend to accommodate hate speech. The 'youth's' slogan may translate to inciting people to assassinate the Former Prime Minister. Our communities need a lot of effort in capacity building so that people get to know their rights and freedoms and their limitations.
ICG: Zanu PF By-Election Victory Signals Serious Problems in 2018 Polls
he International Crisis Group (ICG) says the landslide victory of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party in a January by-election in Zimbabwe’s Bikita West constituency in Masvingo Province is a troubling bellwether for the future of the country.
ICG says it signals that presidential and parliamentary elections in mid-2018 are unlikely to be credible, free or fair, and also that without fundamental change through a legitimate election, Harare will maintain the self-destructive policies that have done so much damage.
“In Bikita West, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) candidate, Beauty Chabaya, promoted from its provincial women’s league, won with 77.9 per cent of the vote. The opposition complained of assaults, intimidation and threats of retribution by senior ZANU-PF figures against disloyal voters – the identification of whom was easier as voting results are broken down by polling station. Local party structures and traditional authorities also helped to monitor voters and in the run-up to the poll reportedly manipulated the distribution of food aid and farming inputs.”
ICG says the Bikita West vote was the latest in a series of by-elections being watched for how Zimbabwe and the ZANU-PF will fare, not just in next year’s elections, but also during the transition from more than three decades of rule by the ailing President Robert Mugabe, 92.
Zimbabwe’s Relentless Decline
The organizationa says c redible elections in 2018 will be crucial for arresting Zimbabwe’s precipitous decline. “Considered a middle-income country in the 1990’s, the economy nearly halved in the 2000s and has not recovered since. A large number of skilled workers in the government and private sector have left the country. According to the World Bank, 72 per cent of the population is poor and 20 per cent live in extreme poverty.
“Zimbabweans, despite exposure to much poor governance, put great store in a legitimate electoral process leading to reform. But this will require more than simply depoliticising the institutional machinery responsible for elections. More years of unchanged policies would further entrench a corrupt government and predatory state incapable of decisive change, leading to further social stagnation, economic slowdown and risks for the future stability and development of the region.”
Is says the opposition has struggled to make an impact following the 2013 elections defeat of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and subsequent turmoil within that party that resulted in the vacation of many parliamentary seats.
According to ICG, the main opposition’s subsequent boycott has allowed ZANU-PF to win all but one of more than 20 post-2013 by-election contests and grow its two-thirds majority in parliament.
The ruling party’s shock loss in the Norton constituency in the October 2016 by-election was seen by some as a sign of its vulnerability. The MDC-T and Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People’s First (ZimPF) coordinated with disaffected war veterans to elect the independent candidate, Themba Mliswa (a former ZANU-PF parliamentarian and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cousin).
“Some argue Mliswa’s victory demonstrated that a unified opposition could win, even without meaningful electoral reforms. But others contend that the loss was a result of a contest between ZANU-PF factions, and that the nominally independent Mliswa was a stalking horse for Vice President Mnangagwa against the official ZANU-PF candidate, Ronald Chindedza, who was loyal to a rival faction of the party.”
ZANU-PF’s Show of Force
ICG says there were no signs of ruling party vulnerability in Bikita West: President Mugabe sent a clear directive that the constituency be won at all costs; ZANU-PF presented a united front; and MDC-T and war veterans did not close ranks behind the main opposition candidate, ZimPF’s Kudakwashe Gopo.
“Opposition parties continue to talk, but, riven by infighting, have neither fully joined forces, nor been able to take advantage of ZANU-PF’s internal discord either. ZANU-PF’s most significant challenge remains the choice of Mugabe’s successor. Mugabe was re-endorsed at the party’s National Conference in December as its presidential candidate for the 2018 elections, when he will be 94.
“With his physical capacities visibly waning, his failure to put in place a clear succession plan appears to be designed both to temper the ambitions of Mnangagwa, who is regarded by many as an obvious heir, and also to soothe the frustrations of those opposed to the vice president. The intra-party discord and jockeying is likely to frustrate political and economic reform and thus Western re-engagement.”
ICG notes that the sweeping victory for the ruling party in Bikita West raises deeper questions about the scale of popular support for the opposition. The National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), an umbrella opposition campaigning platform, retains an official position of boycotting elections until the process is reformed, but has failed to present a united political front.
The MDC-T has boycotted all by-elections because promised reforms remain largely unaddressed , but others have joined in to varying extents.
“It is unclear why ZimPF, a member of NERA, put up a candidate in the Bikita West election at all. There were internal ZimPF tensions over whether or not to participate, and the provincial party leaders who pushed against it have now resigned. In the end, the failure of ZimPF’s candidate in Bikita West has now damaged ZimPF leader Mujuru’s prospects of leading an opposition coalition in the 2018 elections.”
Addressing Zimbabwe’s Electoral Weakness
ZANU-PF vehemently denies allegations by the opposition and civil society of wrongdoing in Bikita West. “But that is not enough to make the opposition trust institutions like the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), the police and the courts, which should be able to combat these violations. Severely underfunded after producing reports critical of the government, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) cannot launch a serious inquiry into the elections.”
The region, says ICG, could help. “The Southern Africa Development Community and African Union have developed a framework for electoral conditions, and should launch an assessment of Zimbabwe’s democratic progress and shortfalls. They should carefully consider the concerns raised by NERA and others, and propose realistic reform implementation timelines ahead of the polls.
“Powers from further afield will be less willing to engage the more compromised the legitimacy of the regime becomes. Even then they will have to tread carefully, balancing support for improving institutional capacities and addressing problems, without inadvertently adding to distortions of what is already a skewed electoral environment.”
The March by-election in Mwenezi East promises to test conditions once again, as a senior ZimPF leader and former ZANU-PF firebrand, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, runs in his former constituency.
The Bikita West by-election highlights how much still needs to be done – both by the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition.
Thursday, 16 February 2017
Human Rights Violations
In most rural parts the country where there is hunger due to last year's el nino induced drought needy people are facing different kinds of abuses. It is reported that in some parts of the country food aid is distributed along political lines. In some cases people are made to pay unjustified amounts purported to be transport payments; others are made to pay bribes to welfare officers to be registered for food aid. In some instances the elderly and physically disadvantaged are made to do public works (food for work) whilst the young and fit are considered vulnerable and qualify to receive food aid without working. We have received reports from many rural districts including Zvimba (Ward 30, Zvimba North).
Thursday, 2 February 2017
WHAT ARE THE POLITICIANS DOING?
During our workshops in Mashonaland East and Central we gathered that politicians and the communities blame each other for causing political violence neither is prepared to take the blame.
Politicians claim that community members have an inherent hatred amongst themselves which they often try to express in times of political campaigns, the community claims that it is the politicians that incite violence by using hate speech and financing thugs and hooligans to terrorise the innocent communities.
Now our question is: "WHY AS COMMUNITIES DO WE LET POLITICIANS DICTATE ON HOW WE SHOULD RELATE IF WHAT WE CLAIM IS TRUE.WHY CANT WE TELL THEM HOW WE SHOULD CONDUCT OURSELVES?!"
Politicians claim that community members have an inherent hatred amongst themselves which they often try to express in times of political campaigns, the community claims that it is the politicians that incite violence by using hate speech and financing thugs and hooligans to terrorise the innocent communities.
Now our question is: "WHY AS COMMUNITIES DO WE LET POLITICIANS DICTATE ON HOW WE SHOULD RELATE IF WHAT WE CLAIM IS TRUE.WHY CANT WE TELL THEM HOW WE SHOULD CONDUCT OURSELVES?!"
Heal Zimbabwe condemns the unlawful arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire
Heal Zimbabwe strongly has condemned the unlawful arrest of #ThisFlag Movement Founder, Pastor Evan Mawarire. Mawarire was arrested today, 2 February 2017 at Harare International Airport upon arriving aboard the South African Airways plane.
<!-- more -->As soon as he landed, Pastor Mawarire was whisked away by plain clothes detectives as his relatives who had come to welcome him back watched in utter shock.
Heal Zimbabwe said it notes that the infringement of citizens' rights such as unlawful arrests and detentions are a violation of citizens' fundamental human rights that are provided for in the constitution.
"In November 2016, during the United Nations Human Rights Council periodic review in Switzerland, Government assured the council that its human rights record had significantly improved which seems contrary to this incident," said Heal Zimbabwe.
Before Pastor Mawarire left Zimbabwe, he led peaceful stay aways as a way of registering displeasure by citizens over the current Government's reluctance to act on vices such as corruption.
His protests on social media also decried the state of the economy and poor social service delivery.
Heal Zimbabwe condemns the unlawful arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire
Heal Zimbabwe strongly has condemned the unlawful arrest of #ThisFlag Movement Founder, Pastor Evan Mawarire. Mawarire was arrested today, 2 February 2017 at Harare International Airport upon arriving aboard the South African Airways plane.
As soon as he landed, Pastor Mawarire was whisked away by plain clothes detectives as his relatives who had come to welcome him back watched in utter shock.
Heal Zimbabwe said it notes that the infringement of citizens' rights such as unlawful arrests and detentions are a violation of citizens' fundamental human rights that are provided for in the constitution.
"In November 2016, during the United Nations Human Rights Council periodic review in Switzerland, Government assured the council that its human rights record had significantly improved which seems contrary to this incident," said Heal Zimbabwe.
Before Pastor Mawarire left Zimbabwe, he led peaceful stay aways as a way of registering displeasure by citizens over the current Government's reluctance to act on vices such as corruption.
His protests on social media also decried the state of the economy and poor social service delivery.Source: Facebook, Bulawayo 24
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
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