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HARARE, (CAJ News) – DISRUPTION of opposition party events, harassment and intimidation as well as discrimination during aid distribution, political tensions are already rising two years before the next general elections in Zimbabwe.
The governing Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), in power since independence 41 years ago, is cited as the main perpetrator of the violations.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project disclosed it had recorded three incidents of disruption of political events, 88 cases of harassment and intimidation plus 23 cases of discrimination during aid distribution during the month of April.
“It appears the silly (election) season is upon us,” the non-governmental organisation stated.
By Staff Reporter
REPORTS of human rights violations by suspected Zanu PF members and the police, often using brute force, are reported to be on the increase across the country as the ruling party prepares for the 2023 elections.
This grim situation in Zimbabwe is captured in the latest report for the month of April released at the weekend by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP).
“It appears the silly season is upon us!” the civil society organisation said.
“Judging by the incidents of human rights violations recorded in April countrywide, the ruling Zanu PF party, which has always used brute methods to garner support ahead of elections, appears to have gone a gear up in laying the bed for the 2023 elections.”
ZPP Monthly Monitoring Report (April 2021)
Format
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In April, ZPP recorded three incidents of disruption of political events, 88 cases of harassment and intimidation, 23 cases of discrimination during aid distribution, many of which point to an increase in tensions within communities.
It appears the silly season is upon us!
Judging by the incidents of human rights violations recorded in April countrywide, the ruling Zanu PF party, which has always used brute methods to garner support ahead of elections, appears to have gone a gear up in laying the bed for the 2023 elections.
Just as in the past, the strategy has always been to shut down political space for opposition parties elbowing them out of what is supposed to be their business, way ahead of election time, such that when the official campaign period kicks off, communities would have already been whipped into silence and fear.
VOA
ZIMBABWEAN opposition and rights groups have held an online protest against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow the president to handpick top judges. Thousands of people viewed the Thursday night rally, which was streamed online to avoid arrests amid a coronavirus lockdown and ban on public gatherings.
Stanley Gwanzura – better known as Pastor G, a Zimbabwean gospel musician – sang “It Shall Be Well” as the opposition and rights groups started the online “rally” Thursday evening.
Jestina Mukoko, a director of a rights NGO named the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was one of the organizers of the #ResistDictatorshipConstitution rally.
“Should we just allow a few people to amend the constitution? As Zimbabweans, should we allow ourselves to be short-changed? It removes the tenets that we want to aspire to get to as Zimbabweans: democracy, transparency, and accountability. If these amendments are allowed to take root, it means what we will have at the end