Zimbabwe – Ready for Elections? 47 organisations and prevent them from focusing on their core business. These attacks have alarmed UN special mechanisms that have continued to call for the protection of HRDs and the cessation of targeting of CSOs ahead of the elections. 3.6.2.1 Media attacks Deputy Commissioner-General Matibiri claimed that 99 per cent of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe were western sponsored and their presence in the country was a “cause for worry and a serious threat to national security”. Newspapers owned by ZANU PF supporters published articles that were tantamount to character assassination of certain leaders of CSOs and their organisation. At most, the articles in these newspapers could easily fuel hate against certain CSOs and their leaders. This is discussed in full under the hate speech section in the freedom of expression section. 3.6.2.2 Raids, and seizure of property In cases of raids of CSO offices attended to by ZLHR lawyers since August 2011, at least four police officers were present at the scene in each case. It was evident that the police were using seemingly ‘legitimate processes’ such as search warrants – but which were broad and very vague - to conduct raids. Some sections of the search warrants empowered police to “Search for certain articles, that is to say, articles for criminal use, entry by evasion in contravention of Immigration Act and smuggling”. It was clear that these raids were fishing expeditions as police confiscated property and in one case they took heaps of documents that they wanted to study in order to formulate a charge. In February 2013, a month before the referendum, ZRP functionaries conducted 2 arbitrary searches at premises of Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN). During these two searches the police officers were armed with search warrants that had similar wording (very broad and generalised as highlighted above). They proceeded to seize property including documents, radios and cellphones. This targeting resulted in disruption of activities as staff members were temporarily traumatised. Other CSOs raided included Radio Dialogue, Counseling Services Unit and ZimRights. A total of six CSOs have been raided between August 2012 and 29 July 2013. 3.6.2.3 Arrests, prosecution In the case of ZPP, the national director was later charged with violating provisions of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Act. Just before the referendum, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) also relied on the alleged pending charges to bar ZPP and other organisations from participating in observing the referendum. Leaders from CSOs who were arrested and or prosecuted include Okay Machisa together with his organization, ZimRights, although his case has since been finalised and he was acquitted. Abel Chikomo, the director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum will appear in court on 2 August 2013 on allegations of contravening the PVO Act. Jestina Mukoko, the national director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project was also formally charged with violating the PVO Act.