War vets, soldiers fingered in violence report
By Chengetai Zvauya, Staff Writer
Friday, 25 February 2011 18:12
HARARE – Notorious war veterans and the military are leading a violent
crusade against opposition party supporters in the countryside, a new report
by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) shows.
In its quarterly report which focused on politically-motivated human rights
and food-related violations, the ZPP noted that the highest of
infringements were in the Midlands Province.
Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa comes from the Midlands and is one of
the most feared politicians in that area.
“Chief Nhema was recorded as telling village headmen to maintain a register
of their subordinates in order to look out for all those who miss any Zanu
PF meetings. MDC supporters were assaulted in Zvishavane after failing to
attend a Zanu PF rally at Vukwe Primary School,” said the report.
The report also noted the re-establishment of torture bases by war veterans
and listed Masvingo topping cases of violence.
ZPP recorded 125 cases of politically-motivated violence in the province.
“Among the notable perpetrators is war veteran leader Jabulani Sibanda and
Zanu PF MP for Chivi, Paul Mangwana, while traditional leaders acting under
the orders of Chief Fortune Charumbira claimed they had been told that
chiefs and headmen must ensure their subjects pay allegiance to Zanu PF and
President Robert Mugabe.
Mangwana is also co-chairperson of the Parliamentary Constitutional
Committee (Copac).
“Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba openly told chiefs to support Zanu
PF and that if President Robert Mugabe loses in this year’s proposed
elections they will have a case to answer,” the report said.
The ZPP said the situation was equally worrying in Matabeleland South and
North Provinces where they recorded a similar pattern of violations.
Cases of displacement were also recorded on farms where the initial
beneficiaries of the government’s land reform programme were evicted on
suspicion of belonging to the MDC.
Communal farmers and villagers who had applied for loans and farming inputs
were asked to produce party cards before they could be assisted.
Zimbabwe has seen an upsurge of violence since President Robert Mugabe said
the country would hold elections this year.
Harare has witnessed brutal attacks on MDC supporters by Zanu PF supporters
who have gone on a warpath in the high density suburb of Mbare evicting
suspected opposition party supporters.