Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum: Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland
West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands
province; Zanu (PF) supporters were burning down homes belonging to villagers singled out as MDC
supporters in addition to a series of beatings.
23 June, Bulawayo
Shop owners in Tshabalala suburb were forced to close their shops after war veterans ordered them to
release staff for the president's rally in White City Stadium, last Saturday. Ahead of the rally intimidation
and beatings have been reported at the local bus terminus of Renkini, in Nketa, Tshabalala, and
Nkulumane suburbs. People were forced to get off minibuses at the Stadium. On the same issue Amani
has received reports that Zanu (PF) supporters went into houses beating up people, telling them to attend
the president's rally; four people were hospitalized.
24 June, Bulawayo
Police tear-gassed nearly 100 Zanu (PF) youths in Nyamandlovu business centre last Thursday, when
they disrupted an MDC rally.
25 June, Bulawayo
Amani received a report from the Holy Cross Parish in Tshabalala suburb, stating that on 23 June Zanu
(PF) posters of minister Dabengwa were put up at their church’s fence; the Zanu (PF) supporters
threatened to burn down the church if anyone would take them away.
26 June, Bulawayo
The Daily News reports that a Bulawayo South MDC polling agent, Mr. Patrick Nyabanyama, has been
abducted last June 19 by Zanu (PF) supporters. One week later he has not been found yet, and police are
still carrying out investigations.
HARARE
Cases
The following is a selection of cases from Harare:
Case 1: Kambuzuma
I am an MDC official in Kambuzuma. On 28 April I held a meeting at the section 3 shops to
arrange for primary elections the next day. After the meeting we went to drink beer. Around 9.00
pm I left for home. On my way I saw a blue 504, a white Sunny and a cream Mazda 626. The owner
of the Sunny is CIO [Central Intelligence Organisation]. About 500 metres from the shops, the 626
sped ahead and stopped in front of me. The back passenger stepped out and pointed a gun at me. He
slapped me in the face and pushed me into the car. He said we should not hold MDC meetings
anywhere. They said: “You think you are clever; you MDC people are now behaving like you are
already ruling the country.” There were four men in the back of the car and two in the front. One of
them I recognise. He is from the President’s office. I recognise him from Kambazuma. I know
where he lives. They were also CIO men in the car.
I was forced to sit on the lap of one of them who was sitting in the back. I was sitting in the
middle and my arms were outstretched. Each arm was handcuffed and it was held by the two guys
sitting on either side of the car. The guy in the front seat was slapping me in the face. The other one
was sitting behind me and hitting me at the back. I screamed and a cloth was put in my mouth. The
car moved. I was bleeding. They took me to the bush near Willowvale industrial area.
When they parked, the driver didn’t come out, but the others took me out. I was made to lie on
my back and one of them was standing on my stomach. Two were holding handcuffs with arms
outstretched. One of them took a wire from the car and put it in my anus. Then he put it in my penis
as well. I fainted and they left me for dead.
I came round twice, once on the spot, and then I got to the road and a car found me and took
me to Kambuzuma police. I came round again at the police station. An ambulance was called. I
fainted again and I don’t know how I got to hospital.
At the hospital, they came two times asking for me. The first time they came on the 3rd of the
month. One of the guys came to the hospital, when I was in bed. I saw him and I told the sister who
was in the ward and she went to call the police, but he went away. The following morning he came
28
Select target paragraph3
Add to table of contents