candidates. It is reported that Member of Parliament, Tapiwa Mashakada bribed her with ten thousand dollars ($10 000) to carry out the job but this did not work after the residents refused to go ahead with the elections without Maravanyika as a contesting candidate also resulting in her assault. 23 May Assault Davison Mukoto allegedly assaulted Jossie Chikono a ZANU PF member for recording names and BVR serial numbers of Cherutombo residence in Marondera. Chikono lost her cellphone during the assault and immediately reported the matter to Marondera Police Station after a passerby restrained Mukoto. 24 May Violation of freedom of the media The Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Terence Mukupe during a live broadcast current affairs programme on SFM, assaulted blessed Mhlanga a Newsday journalist. Mhlanga and Mukupe were in the studio to discuss a statement by the deputy minister that the military would not recognize Nelson Chamisa as the president in the event that he wins the elections. The heated discussion resulted in Mukupe assaulting the journalist a He went on to assault the journalist he accusing him of soiling his image. Mukupe with the aid of his bouncers also confiscated a cell phone from the victim’s wife. Mhlanga reported the matter at Highlands police station under RRB 35337572 25 May Assault MDC-T youths clashed over the eligibility of Charlton Hwende as a Councilor candidate in the upcoming elections. Shakespeare Mukoyi who is the deputy youth chairperson, challenged Hwende to prove that he was from Kuwadzana constituency, this angered Hwende’s supporters who then attacked Mukoyi, which led to the fight. The youths supporting Hwende reportedly retreated and took the matter to the provincial leadership. 1 Unknown ZANU supporter 1 1 PF Unknown Nature of violations Violations during the month of May were mostly torture; assault; violation of freedom of movement and residence; malicious destruction of property; arbitrary arrest and detention (MDP). The nature of the violations, the number of the victims and the perpetrator category are shown in Table 2 below. 18