5 Below we give brief descriptions of the bye-elections that took place. These are based mostly upon the cases seen by the AMANI Trust itself, both during and after the bye-elections. The cases seen by the AMANI Trust are given in Appendix 2. The names of all those victims seen by AMANI are abbreviated in order to protect the victims. The only names that appear have already appeared in the public domain, usually by reports in the national or international press. 2. Marondera West By-election – 25-26 November, 2001 The Marondera West by-election was held following the death of Zanu (PF) MP, Rufaro Gwanzura, who died in a car accident in September. It was the first bye-election to be held after the General Election. The MDC brought back losing parliamentary candidate Shadrek Chipangura, while Zanu (PF) ran local party loyalist Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri as its candidate. Initial MDC reports from early in the campaign season indicate incidents where party supporters were shot at by Zanu (PF) supporters 4. Zanu (PF) youth also reportedly chased away an MDC campaign team that consisted of a white member and was being followed by a white BBC reporter.5 The campaign turned deadly when Lemani Chapurunga was killed in political violence during the run-up. During the incident, an MDC mob approached Zanu (PF) supporters at a campaign meeting. Police stepped in and fired when the MDC advanced. The MDC supporters retreated and the ZRP followed them to a shopping center. Some witnesses said the police were shooting throughout the area and ‘bullets were just flying’. Chapurunga was sitting at a bar at the shopping center when a stray bullet hit and killed him. His younger brother Milton said, “It was the police who shot my brother. It was not true that my brother was shot while with any of the political groups. Some soldiers in the area had been intimidating voters threatening reprisals if the MDC won”.6 Across the constituency numerous other methods were reportedly used to impede the process of free and fair elections. Reports indicated that voters were told machines would be used by Zanu (PF) to review votes with the implication that those who did not vote for the ruling party would become further victims of retribution and violence. Other reports accused Zanu (PF) of illegally using government resources such as DDF trucks, army-issued tents and local council offices for campaign purposes.7 As the campaign wore on, Zanu (PF) resorted to its often-used tactic of funneling money into a constituency ahead of an election under the guise of development projects. Millions of dollars were funneled into the constituency through the Ministry of Youth, Gender and Employment Creation for income-generating projects. The funds were targeted at youth and distributed at Zanu (PF) rallies featuring party leaders and the by-election candidate. Minister Border Gezi explained the distribution of funds by saying, “Yes, we gave money to Marondera West last Friday but this has nothing to do with the by-election to take place there. This was done as part of our national programme that has seen us giving out money to other areas and provinces.”8 Prior to the election dates, the EU requested to be allowed to send monitors through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Councillor Jerome Sautier of the French Embassy in Harare said, “The request for international observers was not accepted on the grounds that this was just a byelection and did not need the presence of international monitors”. Only monitors from ZESN monitored the election.9 4 Financial Gazette, 2 November 2001 Financial Gazette, 9 November 2001 6 Financial Gazette, 23 November 2001 7 Financial Gazette, 14 December 2001 8 Financial Gazette, 23 November 2001 9 ibid 5 AMANI TRUST: Organised Violence and Torture in the Bye-Elections held in Zimbabwe during 2000 and 2001.