News

Violence on the increase: CHRA

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Violence is on the increase and most of it is politically motivated, a 
recent survey by the Combined Harare Residents Association has found.
30.05.1209:21am
by Staff Reporter

“Zanu (PF) is still holding on to council premises, from which council is 
supposed to be earning rent. But all the money is being pocketed by the 
party’s youth militia. Only a quarter of business operators in Mbare pay the 
monthly service charges. Most operators who do not sympathize with Zanu (PF) 
have been chased away from Magaba, Siyaso, Mupedzanhamo and Masimbi,” says 
the report.

CHRA reported previously that Mbare market stalls have been turned into Zanu 
(PF) districts, with regular party meetings being held and funds collected. 
Now it says the party has penetrated residential areas.

“A classic example is Carter House which was violently seized by Chipangano 
and currently houses more than 20 youth militia. Efforts by council to 
regain the property have on several occasions proved to be bloody, as these 
youths can simply unleash violence without fear of consequences,” says the 
report.

It adds that “about 87.5% of residents who were knowledgeable of national 
institutions like JOMIC and the organ on national healing said these bodies 
had failed to mitigate violence”. Research found that residents were still 
being coerced to attend Zanu (PF) rallies and those who refuse to do so are 
marked for retribution.

Residents have called on the government to address the operations of the 
police force “because statements alone will not put to end violence”. 

Political Murder, barely 24 hours after UN Envoy's departure

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Six people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Cephas 
Magura, Chairperson for ward 1 Mudzi North. The deceased aged 58 was 
severely assaulted at Chimukoko Business Centre on Saturday 26 May 2012 at 
around 12pm. He was hit by a stone on the head and fell on the ground and 
was severely assaulted by ZANU PF youth who had come to disrupt the rally. 
The rally was disrupted just 30 minutes after it started.
30.05.1207:11am
by Heal Zimbabwe

It is reported that close to one hundred MDC supporters had gathered at 
Chimukoko Business centre for a rally which was sanctioned by the police. 
Heal Zimbabwe applaud the police for arresting the six perpetrators but 
questions emerge on why the police failed to calm the situation at a rally 
that was sanctioned. A sanctioned rally is supposed to have members of the 
police to monitor and make sure the rally is peaceful, it was the police’s 
duty to protect the victim from the hooligans. It is the responsibility of 
the police to protect people from violence regardless of their political 
affiliation. The MDC by informing the police means they wanted a peaceful 
rally with no disruptions.

Mr. Chikuna who was part of those who attended the rally narrated that 
ZANU-PF supporters came and started singing at the same venue they were 
having their rally. He states that the violent youth started singing their 
party songs and started attacking the people who were at the rally. The MDC 
supporters responded by fleeing the venue but the youth pursued them and in 
the process hit Mr. Mugura with a stone on the head and he died on the spot. 
Six other MDC supporters were assaulted and are still receiving treatment at 
a hospital in Harare.

The post mortem results indicate that the late Mr. Mugura was hit on the 
head with a blunt object and assaulted all over his body. Mourners are 
gathered at Dotso Village, Goronga, Mudzi. The deceased will be laid to rest 
on Saturday, 2 June 2012.

Read more: Political Murder, barely 24 hours after UN Envoy's departure

UN Rights chief criticised over call to suspend sanctions

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
28 May 2012

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been criticised 
for comments she made in Harare last week, calling for the suspension of 
targeted sanctions placed on members of the Robert Mugabe regime by the 
European Union (EU) and Western countries.

Speaking as she ended a five-day visit to assess human rights in Zimbabwe, 
Navi Pillay said the restrictive measures were now ‘opposed’ by all three 
parties in the unity government and, although the measures were targeted at 
specific individuals and companies, she said: “they are in fact having a 
wider impact on the general population.” However, Pillay did not explain how 
this was so.

Her call for removal of the sanctions surprised many Zimbabwean activists 
and some observers, who said Pillay was aware of the continued arrests of 
MDC officials, state sponsored violence, the absence of independent 
broadcasters, repressive legislation and reforms in the GPA that ZANU PF 
refuses to implement.

“I would urge those countries that are currently applying sanctions on 
Zimbabwe to suspend them, at least until the conduct and outcome of the 
elections and related reforms are clear,” Pillay said to journalists on 
Friday.

But civil groups and the MDC formations, all of whom met with the UN rights 
chief last week, have said they are against the suspension because human 
rights abuses by the Mugabe regime have not stopped. And this would hinder 
Zimbabwe from conducting a free and fair poll.

Read more: UN Rights chief criticised over call to suspend sanctions

Police Ignorant of Chipangano, ZRP Reveals

http://www.radiovop.com

Harare, May 28, 2012 – Police on Monday claimed they were not privy to the 
identities of members of the terror group Chipangano as Zanu PF and the two 
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) parties jointly denounced the shadowy 
group.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesman James Sabau said police were not 
aware who comprised Chipangano. Zanu PF Harare youth leader Jimmy Kunaka is 
known to be the leader of the group.

“Who are these people? We as the police don’t know them. If anyone has their 
identities they should approach the nearest police office so that they are 
arrested,” said Sabau after being quizzed by journalists on why the police 
were turning a blind eye to the terror's campaign in Mbare where they are 
reportedly setting up illegal road-blocks among other criminal activities.

In a joint press conference held at the head offices of the Joint Monitoring 
and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) lunchtime Monday, also attended by ZRP 
officers including Sabau, the three chairperson of Zanu PF and the two MDC 
formations, Amos Midzi, Paul Madzore and Trynos Mgutshini respectively, 
disassociated themselves from the shadow group.

In a press statement read by Mgutshini on behalf of the three provincial 
chairpersons of the three political parties labelled Chipangano a criminal 
gang not linked to any of the parties’ signatory to the Global Political 
Agreement (GPA).

Read more: Police Ignorant of Chipangano, ZRP Reveals