Summary of Violations for April
In April 2017, 63 new victims of Organized Violence and Torture (OVT) were reported and
documented from across the country.
The table below summarises cases of OVT for April.
NB: The following notes should be put into consideration when reading these cases:
§
Human rights violations contained in this report are derived from statements made to the
Forum’s Public Interest Unit, its member and partner organisations.
§
The identities of victims whose names have not been published in the press and are not public
officials are protected. This is done in order to protect the victim from further violence,
intimidation and possible reprisals.
§
The Report cannot be considered as the exhaustive record of all incidents of politicallymotivated violence in Zimbabwe in the period under review. Nevertheless, every incident
reported to the Forum directly or through its members is meticulously documented and
included in the report.
TABLE 1: Reported Incidents of OVT April 2017
Date
Violation
Violation Narration
Number
of victims
Perpetrator
20
April
Torture
Mwaaraidza Bhasopo was apprehended by
ZCDC security guards around 3pm near
Chiadzwa School whilst he was walking with
his friend Stephen Manjokote. It is alleged that
three ZCDC guards including one only
identified as Gwidiba took the victim’s national
ID and claimed that he was an illegal diamond
miner. They then arrested him and drove him
into the diamond fields were they set 6 dogs on
him whilst he was seated on the ground. The
dogs mauled him in his legs, hands and stomach
whilst the guards were throwing stones at the
victim. They then started assaulting him with
fists on his face and ears.
1
ZCDC guards
21
April
Assault
Queen Mwagezano was assaulted by 3
unidentified men with fists and was kicked
whilst she was on the ground. This happened
after she was sent by her mother to Mufakose
shopping Centre around 3pm. The 3
unidentified men approached her and
1
ZANU-PF
supporters
4