Zimbabwe – Ready for Elections?
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on contaminated food.15 Zimbabwe has over the last years been an active contributor to
this regrettable phenomenon and steadily supplied information on such related
statistics. Access to potable water remained of concern as the IG failed to deliver on this.
The right to participate in the government of the country fully can only be realised if
people are able to enjoy their interrelated rights without impediments. Issues affecting
the welfare and health of a person can prevent active participation as they affect the
capacity to participate without distraction.
3.4 Civil and political rights
3.4.1
Security of the person
There has already been increased evidence of the desire by both ZANU PF and MDC-T to
prevent the formation of another IG at all costs. As ZANU PF continues its election
rhetoric of “voting wisely” to preserve the country's resources and land reform
programme unhindered,16 re-orientation of citizens through forced attendance at rallies
was recorded.17 Intra-and inter-party violence has also been experienced.18 ZANU PF
has also been accused of using its old tactics of targeting citizens and HRDs, and leading
in perpetrating human rights violations.19 Arbitrary arrests, prosecutions and physical
attacks have continued to undermine the security of citizens and HRDs. New tactics of
manipulating electoral processes such as voter registration (preventing perceived
opposition supporters from registering and independent observers from observing)
have also been reported. All these concerns and allegations have been dismissed as
unfounded by ZANU PF.20
Although levels of violence were lower than in the run-up to the 2008 elections, an
MDC-T supporter was allegedly murdered towards the end of June 2013 in Mudzi in a
case suspected to have been politically motivated.21 Problems of political intolerance
due to polarisation in communities persist ahead of 31 July elections. Police have
acknowledged the occurrence of inter- and intra-party violence,22 and some cases have
been reported,23 between MDC-T and ZANU PF supporters. These clashes had started as
15 P H Gleick “The human right to water” Water Policy 1, 1998, 48.
16 “Vote wisely to preserve country’s resources” The Herald (27 May 2013) p 2.
17 X Ncube “Tsvangirai warns chiefs” Daily News (24 July 2013) available at
<http://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2013/07/24/tsvangirai-warns-chief> Last accessed on 28 July
2013.
18 L Gumbo et al “Violence rocks Chitungwiza” The Herald (7 November 2011) p 1.
19 T Zivira et al “ZANU PF leads in human rights violations” Daily News (14 July 2013) p 4.
20 G Mazara “Rigging claims mere politicking: President” The Herald (24 July 2013) available at <
http://66.135.59.88/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88415:rigging-claims-merepoliticking-president&catid=37:top-stories&Itemid=130#.UfRlJdJHKz4> Last accessed 28 July 2013.
21 “MDC T activist killed in Mudzi” Newsday (28 May 2012) available at
<http://www.newsday.co.zw/2012/05/28/2012-05-28-mdct-activist-killed-in-mudzi/> Last accessed
28 July 2013.
22 F Razemba “ZANU PF MDC T supporters clash in Tafara” The Herald (24 July 2013) p 4.
23 As above.
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