The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has pledged to closely monitor the progress being made by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in investigating and delivering justice for the nine Zanu-PF party supporters who were injured following the Makoni by-elections.
This is contained in the Commission’s recently published report entitled “ZHRC Election Observation and Monitoring Report on the 2023 Harmonised Elections.”
ZHRC said they recorded an incident of violence during the monitoring of the human rights situation and observation of the Ward 33 Makoni South Run-Off by-election that was held on October 2, 2023.
“Upon declaration of results at the St Jude’s Ward Commander Centre and with the ZANU PF candidate being declared the winner, violence erupted. It is alleged that around 9 PM, CCC members violently attacked Zanu-PF supporters using different objects and using insults. The following day, ZHRC visited the victims at Rusape District Hospital where they received medical treatment,” the report read.
“The Commission ascertained that a total of 9 ruling party supporters were injured including bruises, swollen legs and hands amongst others. ZHRC further engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police who indicated that the matter was under investigations. ZHRC will make further follow up with police regarding progress on the issue.”
ZHRC also highlighted more cases of violence in their report.
“ZHRC took note of few cases of politically motivated violence against some political members and is following up on them. For instance, in Mashonaland East Province, incidents of political violence, intimidation, threats to life and destruction of property came to the attention of the Commission. A case in point is the violence against the CCC winning Member of Parliament for Goromonzi South Constituency, who was attacked twice, with his house being also attacked, the report read.
“The Commission is seized with this matter. ZHRC received allegations of post polling intimidation where the electorate reported that meetings were being scheduled by some ruling party members and some individual traditional leaders as platforms to identify those who had voted for the opposition and ‘deal with them’.”
