against members of the opposition parties. Other reports were also recorded in Hurungwe,
Mbire and Murehwa.
4. Geographical Distribution of Violations and Conflicts
In this month of October, low profile violations were recorded, generally distributed evenly
across 9 districts. Most conflicts were politically motivated characterised by internal
factionalism and inter-party rivalry. Among the recorded political violations were 2 internal
factional conflicts within the ruling party ZANU PF and 2 from the MDC-T. We also
recorded 2 cases of economic violations and 1 situation where unfair distribution of food aid
was recorded in Mutoko. There were no cases of land, sociocultural and environmental
conflicts recorded this month.
Political conflicts could be on the rise because of the factional politics affecting both the
opposition and the ruling parties, the MDC-T and ZANU PF, respectively. In October,
ZANU PF structures went in an election mood as the party began a restructuring process
ahead of their non-elective annual conference in December. In addition, the ZANU PF
Women’s League Chairperson, Dr Grace Mugabe hosted provincial political rallies in
Manicaland and Mashonaland Central. Internal factional violence is likely to continue
through to the ZANU PF December conference and beyond given the succession fights
within the party. This also applies to the opposition MDC-T that continues to have internal
leadership spats, particularly among the party’s President Morgan Tsvangirai, Vice President
Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa, the party’s former National Organising Secretary.
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