Zimbabwe faces increased political violence due to Zanu PF’s efforts to extend President Mnangagwa’s rule, with 117 human rights violations reported in February alone, impacting over 7,292 individuals. The perpetrators are often affiliated with the ruling party. The Zimbabwe Peace Project has urged authorities to enforce the law and protect human rights.
Zimbabwe is currently facing a troubling rise in political violence, predominantly propelled by the ruling Zanu PF party’s attempts to prolong President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond the designated end in 2028. A report published by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) reveals that February alone witnessed 117 documented human rights violations, impacting a total of 7,292 individuals nationwide.
The incidents of violence ranged from threats, politically motivated assaults, inequitable distribution of food aid, to constraints on freedoms of assembly, association, and expression. Those responsible for these violations are primarily affiliated with the ruling Zanu PF party, local authorities, and traditional leaders.
The ZPP report highlighted that among those affected were 4,064 women, including 94 with disabilities, and 3,228 men, of whom 77 had disabilities. Community members have also reported being coerced into attending purported public gatherings of the ruling party to mislead them about food aid distribution, tied to the party’s so-called “2030 agenda.”
Intra-party violence has surged within Zanu PF, evidenced by physical altercations at meetings and community events. For example, in Kadoma’s Ward 2, two factions clashed over the party’s agenda. In Epworth, two opposition CCC members were severely beaten by Zanu PF backers for opposing the presidential term extension, with victims sustaining injuries from metal rods, particularly to the head and face, and having their mobile phones confiscated.
To combat the escalating violence, ZPP has urged the government and judiciary to enforce the rule of law and ensure the protection of human rights. The organization has additionally called upon the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to create viable structures for the investigation and prosecution of human rights abuses.
The current political atmosphere in Zimbabwe is marked by alarming levels of violence rooted in the Zanu PF party’s agenda to extend the presidential term of Emmerson Mnangagwa. With thousands affected by human rights violations as reported in February, it is essential for the government and relevant authorities to take decisive action to uphold human rights and to restore order. The call for accountability and effective measures to combat such violence is critical for ensuring a peaceful and democratic political environment in the country.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
