THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT |ZIMBABWE I 2017 Politically motivated assault Ndlovu. This led to a violent confrontation between A total of 140 cases of assault were recorded and documented by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP). Cases of assault emanated mostly from inter and intra party disputes. Intra party battles in ZANUPF emanated from factionalism. However, cases of violence within ZANU-PF were difficult to document, as information was not readily available. A case of intra party violence involving ZANU-PF supporters was documented in May. The violence broke at the ZANU-PF Bulawayo provincial headquarters, Davis Hall after a group of ZANU-PF supporters opposed to the National Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere disrupted a Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting that was being chaired by Dennis the two factions resulting in the stabbing of the district youth chairperson, Magura Charumbira, by youths from a rival faction who claimed that he was supporting an anti Kasukuwere campaign. The Chairperson of the Youth League Anna Mokgohloa was also severely assaulted. A major cause of concern observed during the year was the frequent refusal by the police to investigate and prosecute cases of political violence involving ZANU-PF supporters as the perpetrators against opposition political party supporters, particularly the MDC-T activists. Specific Cases On 13 May 2017, Allan Tivapasi an MDC-T ward official, who was participating in a door-to-door campaign for his party, was severely assaulted by local ZANU-PF supporters at Chiroti Business Centre in Hurungwe. 15 On 21 May 2017, the ZANU-PF District Youth Chairperson Magura Charumbira and the Youth League Chairperson Anna Mokgohloa were respectively stabbed and severely assaulted during an intra-party violence that erupted at Davies Hall in Bulawayo ahead of the ZANU-PF Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting. 16 On 25 June 2017, Cosmas Katsuro an MDC-T youth member from Sanyati was assaulted by ZANUPF supporters namely Tonderai Wadesango,William Ruzvidzo, Emmanuel Ruzvidzo, Brighton Ruzvidzo and Patrick Musona for wearing his party t- shirt. The matter was reported to the Sanyati ARDA police station under docket RRB2039782 by Sergeant Charamba but no arrests were made. 17 On 9 September 2017, Wilson Benhura the MDC-T district organising secretary and Wellington Jowa were reportedly assaulted at Makoni Business Centre in Chitungwiza by Lady Manhango and approximately 15 other ZANU PF supporters for wearing MDC-T party regalia. Wilson and Jowa were coming from a party meeting held at Chapungu Gardens when they met the attackers who were coming from a ZANU- PF presidential interface rally that was held in Bindura on the same date. Victims were taken to Makoni Clinic and the matter was reported to Makoni Central Police Station under CR 232/9/17. 18 Ibid, May 2017 The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Monthly Political and Human Rights Violations Report, May 2017, available on http://www.hrforumzim.org/publications/ 17 The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Monthly Political & Human Rights Violation Report, June 2017, available on http://www.hrforumzim.org/publications/ 18 Ibid, September 2017 15 16 22