By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Peace Project has recorded 110 cases of harassment and intimidation in the country most of which were perpetrated by state security agents.
The organisation revealed recording 13 cases of unlawful detention, 40 cases of assault and two extra judicial killings.
Said the organisation in its monthly report:
“One of the major cases is that of an illegal miner who was shot in the head by a security guard in Shamva on 15 May 2020. During the month of May, Harare recorded 100 cases of violations, the highest in the country, followed by Mashonaland East with41 cases.
Attention was drawn to the efforts oftwo Bulawayo sisters, Nokuthula and Ntombizodwa Mpofu to get justice after being arbitrarily arrested and assaulted by police. Police released the women following the intervention of civil society organisations and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.”
ZPP said the six offending officers were subsequently arrested and have appeared in court.
“A Bulawayo resident, Levison Ncube died as a result of injuries sustained after he was brutally assaulted by police officers for violating lockdown regulations on the first day of the lockdown. Ncube’s family, with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, has indicated that they intend to sue the state for the death of Levison.
The family of Munakopa mentioned earlier has written to the police requesting an independent inquiry into the shooting that led to Paul’s death. It must be noted that pressure from victims, citizens and civil society organizations is essential in the promotion and protection of human rights as well as the seeking of justice.”
ZPP said the report focuses on how the State continues to perpetrate human rights violations during the COVID-19 crisis.
“The COVID-19 induced national lockdown has exacerbated the pre-existing food insecurity. Although the Zimbabwean economy is highly informal, the sector has been excluded from essential services thereby increasing the vulnerability of citizens.
The distribution of aid continued to be largely partisan and discriminatory, with Mashonaland East recording the highest food and other aid violations at 42.57 percent followed by Manicaland at 28.86 percent.”
“This report highlights some of the cases of discrimination on food aid and provides an insight into the government aid that was either grossly insufficient or did not reach the deserving beneficiaries.
It also looks at the discrepancies in government responses to COVID-19 and how these are impact on human rights in Zimbabwe.”