their names written down and become targets of violence, face unspecified action or denied
food aid.
Other violations least recorded involve disruption of political gatherings and assault
recording only 1% each in the run up to the by-election between 1st - 21st January 2017. In
terms of disruption of political gatherings, opposition political parties and independent
candidates who were campaigning had their meetings prevented from taking place or being
disrupted through space invasion by their political opponents. Disrupting political activities
for other contestants restricts the exercise of political rights both to citizens and political
actors. Assault, on the other hand, involved beating of political opponents at rallies, public
places and food distribution points. Madock Chivasa of NCA together with his election agent
Thomas Mudzamiri, for instance, were assaulted at Nyika Growth Point while they were
going about their business.
Actors in the Pre-Election Day Violations
Heal Zimbabwe established that most of the violations committed in Bikita West were largely
meant to harvest fear for electoral victory. Members of the Executive arm of the government,
Members of Parliament, ZANU PF leaders and supporters as well as Traditional leaders were
the major actors in perpetrating human rights violations and inciting violence. Members of
Parliament and the Executive who incited violence and perpetuated human rights violations
in Bikita West include; the Masvingo Resident Minister, Hon Shuvai Mahofa, Josiah Hungwe
(Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education Vocational Training),
Joseph Chinotimba (Buhera South MP) Jeppy Jaboon (Bikita South MP) Webster Shamu
(Chegutu East MP). Most of these government officials incited violence through their
speeches at rallies as well as perpetuating human rights violations by acts of commission and
omission. ZANU PF leaders and supporters participated in perpetuating intimidation and
partisan distribution of food aid and farming inputs mostly.
Traditional leaders perpetuated human rights violations by accepting to be used as political
commissars who mobilised villagers to political rallies. They also commanded people to vote
for a specific political party instead of maintaining neutrality as prescribed by law. For
example Chief Mupakwa called for a meeting at his homestead on the 7th of January 2017
and commanded all people in attendance to vote for ZANU PF failure of which one would be
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