Human Rights Archive Zimbabwe

This report considers the human rights implications of the so-called fast track process of land redistribution in Zimbabwe, under which the government has revised the constitution and amended legislation in order to allow it to acquire commercial farms compulsorily and without compensation, and the land occupations that have accompanied it since early 2000.

Reverend Useni Sibanda opened the conference’s third day by assisting participants to reflect on first two days Symposium’s outputs drawing from various presentations and evidence by victims and survivors of the Gukurahundi atrocities.

Day 2 of the NTJWG Conference being in Bulawayo began with participants visiting different historical sites and heritage centres which depict Zimbabwe’s conflict history and community healing practices. Visited places include; the Entumbane Reintegration Camps sites, the Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church and Amagugu International Heritage Centre.

The month of January recorded many violations which were politically motivated. Most of the reported cases were harassment and intimidation of opposition political activists. Other prominent cases were those of deprivation of state sponsored food aid and inputs for farming.

A season of Rallies: Dominant human rights violations recorded during June 2017 revolve around preparations for the presidential youth interface rallies, Heroes Day commemorations, the upcoming Chiwundura by-election, continued barring of students from attending classes, harassment of vendors and discrimination during food aid distribution.

The month of May stands out owing to violations of the right to education, the right to food and civil and political rights mainly freedom of association and assembly. This May ZPP recorded the highest number of incidences where pupils were sent away from school for failure to pay school fees or clear the previous term’s arrears.

The Report Highlights how Zimbabweans are Prisoners of fear and how the farming season has contributed to an increase in cases of intimidation and harassment as well as discrimination as cases of discrimination have increased from 21 to 31.

Social and citizen movements continue to gather momentum although in the month under review their activities have been restricted by the ban on protests affecting Harare. The social movements and unions like #Tajamuka, #ThisFlag, #ThisGown, National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ), Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) and have been recently joined by the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), a coalition of 18 political parties.

This study has been influenced by our reading of similar literatures in relation to the psychological and social effects of the trauma resulting from organised violence and torture. While we will not be reviewing that literature in depth in this report, it does seem important to note that there is a large body of literature relating both to similar experiences elsewhere in the world and also within the specifically Zimbabwean context.

This report finds that legal accountability and the rule of law in Zimbabwe have been seriously eroded under the ZANU-PF government through its interference in the criminal justice system. It shows that victims of human rights abuses—mainly MDC supporters—continue to be denied their right to justice and an effective remedy.