On 01 August 2018, a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officer allegedly used a
sjambok to assault A.M who is a vendor in Harare and shot him on the right
shoulder. AM, who is deaf and dumb started running when he witnessed
people running away from the soldiers in Harare’s CBD following the MDC
Alliance’s violent demonstration against the delay in announcement of results.
The victim was unfortunately shot in the process and received medical
assistance from the Counselling Services Unit and legal assistance from the
Forum lawyers. The Forum lawyers assisted the victim to report the case to
police and the case was recorded under IR 091060. The matter is being
investigated by the Law and Order.
On 02 August 2018, uniformed and masked ZNA officers allegedly entered a
bar in 26, at Kuwadzana 2 shops and assaulted M R with sjamboks for
unknown reasons. He sustained injuries on the chest, back and thighs.
In another case, On 09 August 2018, State security agents severely tortured a
human rights lawyer who was deployed to offer emergency legal support to
Tendai Biti in Kariba Mashonaland West. The state agents dispossed the
human rights lawyer of his cell phone and punctured his vehicle tyres in a bid
to stop him from tracking the vehicle in which Biti was travelling in.
Political intolerance remain a cause of concern among the populace. For
example on the 9th of August 2018, a six-year old boy from Gem Farm in
Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central was assaulted with a stick for chanting
Chamisa’s slogan. The boy sustained cuts and bruises on his legs and was
treated at Mvurwi hospital.
c) Abductions - Reports of abductions of opposition supporters were
documented. The total number of abductions reported is Sixteen (16). Four
(4) of these people were abducted in Highfields only to be found heavily
tortured by unknowns assailants whom the victims believe to be members of
the military whilst one (1) person was abducted in Mutoko and managed to
escape the assailants. Another MDC Alliance polling agent was abducted on 7
August 2018 in Marondera. He was found in Goromonzi on 8 August 2018.
He was tortured and stripped by four (4) assailants.
On 17 August 2018, the Forum verified a case in Chitungwiza, Ward 4
involving six (6) MDC Alliance polling agents for the 30th of August
harmonised elections. Two (2) of the agents were temporarily abducted and
assaulted by unknown men on 11 August for allegedly being involved in the
planning of the 1st of August protests. The other four (4) victims have since
disserted their homes after receiving threats of abduction and assults from
unidentified men. The Forum team also visited the home of one of the victims
in Zengeza 2 who reiterated that the unknown men still visit them.
On 10 August, T.N of St Marys in Chitungwiza was abducted at about
1500hrs from Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza by suspected
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