Introduction
The intra and inter- party violence trend has persisted during the month of May. The culture
of political intolerance is embedded in Zimbabwe’s politics. ZANU PF supporters were the
main culprits behind political intolerance. Reports of ZANU-PF supporters attacking
opposition party members appear to be increasing, as members of the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP), Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ) and the Movement for Democratic
Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) reportedly encountered political skirmishes with ZANU-PF
supporters. Members of the MDC-T supporters constituted the majority of the victims as they
were attacked during the door-to-door voter-registration campaign for the party.
Cases of harassment and intimidation are also on the rise. Villagers in most parts of the
country reported that they are persistently reminded of consequences of not voting ZANU-PF
in the impending 2018 elections. Harassment and or intimidation impacts on a range of rights
such as the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly and also the right to
participate in public life. Harassment and or intimidation was widely used by ZANU-PF
during the 2013 harmonized elections where citizens were constantly reminded of the 2008
violence if they fail to vote ZANU –PF.1
The Forum also documented other violations relating to economic, social and cultural rights.
The right to education continues to be violated by school authorities that turn children away
over non-payment of school fees and levies. As schools opened for the second term, several
government schools in Harare and Bulawayo sent children home over non- payment of fees
violating children’s right to education and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education
policy that prohibits school heads from sending away children and withholding examination
results over non-payment of fees. Further during the month, the Ministry of Primary and
Secondary Education announced that it was planning to close over 40 schools in
Matabeleland South province citing low enrolment levels and a lack of teachers. If the
Ministry goes ahead with this plan, this will most likely result in children traveling long
1
The
2008 elections witnessed the worst violence in the history of Zimbabwe’s elections characterised by
murders, extra-judicial killings, torture, rape, abductions, disappearances, death threats and displacements being
extremely prevalent.
3