Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
Teaching them a lesson: A report on the attack on Zimbabwean teachers
serious injuries, one was unable to walk. The police and the army were called in to
restore order. 21 people were arrested. The attacks came two days after a call by Mike
Madiro, Zanu PF's Manicaland chair, to weed out traitors to the revolution.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Of the eight provinces, Mashonaland Central had the highest number of teachers that were
forced out of their places of employment due to political violence. In Mount Darwin South four
teachers were ordered to transfer by “war veterans” and Zanu PF members because they were
MDC supporters. In Shamva another four teachers were also ordered to transfer by a group of
30 “war veterans” and Zanu PF youths. The teachers were assaulted prior to being ordered out
of the school. The group was camped at Chindunduma Two High School where the school
matron gave them food rations. The group also had use of the school’s Nissan truck. In
Bindura, Uronga South Primary School was closed after six teachers were severely assaulted
by a group of “war veterans” and Zanu PF youths.
Bindura
19 May 2001
WT, a teacher at Chipadze Secondary School, and PM, were on their way to Trojan in a
504 station wagon when one Dickson Mafiosi, in a defender, allegedly indicated that
they wanted to see someone in the 504. PM was asked to get out of the car. On asking
why they had pulled them over, Dickson pulled them out of the car and slapped WT on
the face. He said they had been looking for him because he was an MDC supporter.
Dickson alleged that the then Governor, Elliot Manyika now the Minister of Youth,
Gender and Employment Creation, allegedly said they had destroyed WT’s house and
that they wanted his blood. They assaulted him with iron bars, clenched fists and
booted feet. There were eight people. WT passed out for some time as he had
sustained injuries to his head and all over his body. The matter was reported to the
police on the 19th of May 2001.
28 June 2001
A group of “war veterans” and Zanu PF youths reportedly asked teachers at Uronga
South Primary School for membership cards. Three teachers who had Zanu PF cards
were left alone. The remaining six were severely assaulted in front of their pupils with
clenched fists, logs and sjamboks for being opposition supporters as they had failed to
produce Zanu PF party cards. The school was closed for three days. Bindura magistrate
Feyi Gweshuro Tito sentenced the youths to three years in jail with 9 months
conditionally suspended for 5 years. Upon review, Judge George Smith upheld the
sentence as appropriate. Furthermore Justice Smith ordered the police Commissioner
Augustine Chihuri to investigate the 'moral blameworthiness' of ZNLWVA commander.
The judge noted that”
“The use of young men who want land as pawns in the political struggle
and to make them go out and assault and intimidate innocent members of
the public who are going about their own business, in order to qualify for
land, cannot be condoned.”
8