Zimbabwe: 2008 Post-harmonised election violence (continued)

The arrest civil society members continued and on 28 May 14 activists of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise were arrested for demonstrating against political violence in Harare (ZLHR 2008a). They appeared in court on 30 May, but the bail granted to them by the court was appealed by the state and they remained in custody (ZLHR 2008a). On 30 May two officers of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition were detained by police, but were later released without being charged (ZLHR 2008a). On 30 May Nicholas Goche, Minister of Social Welfare, banned Care International from continuing its humanitarian work in Masvinga Province (Kandi 2008). On 4 June Goche issued a notice suspending the field operations of all Private Voluntary Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (ZLHR 2008b).

Arthur Mutambara, leader of the MDC-Mutambara faction was arrested on 1 June charges of publishing falsehoods and released on bail on 3 June (ZLHR 2008a; Association of Zimbabwean Journalists 2008a). MDC campaign rallies were banned and a court order permitting the rallies was ignored by the police (ZLHR 2008c). Tsvangirai was detained while campaigning, along with the MDC-T vice-president and the national chairperson, and interrogated for more than seven hours on 4 June; on 6 June he was detained once more for two hours (ZLHR 2008c). On 7 June Veritas (2008) observed "In the last few weeks at least 10 newly elected legislators have been arrested [some detained up to two weeks before bail]. All 10 are MDC legislators...". On 12 June Tendai Biti, MDC-T secretary general, was arrested and charged with treason, while later in the day Tsvangirai was again arrested while campaigning but released without being charged (Mail & Guardian 2008; Association of Zimbabwean Journalists 2008b).

On 5 June, diplomatic tensions between the Zimbabwe government and those of the USA and the UK were raised when diplomats of the latter two countries were detained for several hours at a police roadblock (Chimhete 2008).

On the 22 June 2008 Tsvangirai (2008) announced that the MDC-T had decided withdraw from the presidential run-off, citing as reason the violence unleashed on the people of Zimbabwe as a result of the MDC-T's victory in the 29 March election and claiming that: "This violent retributive agenda has seen over 200 000 people internally displaced and over 86 MDC supporters killed. Over 20 000 homes have been destroyed and over 10 000 people have been injured and maimed in this orgy of violence".

The period prior to the run-off and the day of the run-off, 27 June 2008, was marked by violence and intimidation. The ZPP (2008a) reported that "ZANUPF commandeered communities to the polling stations and how most voters were assisted to vote. Most people who spoke to ZPP reported that as long as one was a suspected opposition activist they had to repent and such repentance could only be at the polling station thus seeking assistance from the polling officers most of whom were ZANUPF youths and so called war veterans". On 7 July ZPP (2008b) reported that violence had not yet abated, saying: "Human rights are continuing to be violated by ZANU-PF members what is disturbing is the impunity with which violence is perpetrated. A number of murder cases in the Midlands have also been reported. It has also been noted from the reports received that some people who have been victims previously have turned into perpetrators themselves", and went on to detail multiple cases of assaults, murders distruction of property and displacements, primarily in the Midlands.

On 25 July 2008 ZPP published "Run Up to 27 June 2008 Presidential Run Off Election: Human Rights Violations and Food Distribution Monitoring", which provided a detailed account of the violence that preceeded and accompanied the run-off. See http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/hr/080725zpp.asp?sector=HR to download this report.

References

ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS 2008a "Mutambara freed, lawyers to challenge constitutionality of Act", [www] http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=4251&cat=1 [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS 2008b "Biti arrested, faces treason charges", [www] http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=4292&cat=1 [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

CHIMHETE, C 2008 "Pressure Mounts On Mugabe Over Violence", The Standard, 7 June, [www] http://www.thezimbabwestandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=18306:pressure-mounts-on-mugabe-over-violence&catid=31:zimbabwe-stories &Itemid=66 [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

KANDI, T 2008 "Mugabe bans aid group from feeding villagers", 3 June, ZimOnline, [www] http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=3249 [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

MAIL & GUARDIAN 2008 "Zim cops arrest Tsvangirai again", 12 June, [www] http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-06-12-zim-cops-arrest-tsvangirai-again [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

TSVANGIRAI, M "MDC press statement on the presidential run-off", 22 June, [www] http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/polpar/080622mt.asp?sector=POLPAR [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

VERITAS 2008, "Bill Watch 22/2008", 31 May, Legal Brief, [www] http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20080602092824813 [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

ZLHR 2008a "Unwarranted Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Legitimate Political Opponents Continue", 3 June, [www] http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/hr/ 080603zlhr.asp?spec_code=080416peviodex&sector=ELEC&year=0&range_start=1& intMainYear=0&intTodayYear=2008 [opens new window] (accessed 5 Mar 2010).

ZLHR 2008b "Information Relating to the Legal Status of the Notice Issued by N.T.Goche (MP)", 6 June.

ZLHR 2008c "Violations of Freedoms Fundamental for Political Participation Escalate", 7 June.

ZPP 2008a "Information Alert 20", 1 July.

ZPP 2008b "Information Alert 22", 7 July.