Intimidation, Assaults And Open Violence In Zanu PF & MDC-T, Rising’-Heal Zimbabwe

POLITICAL intolerance is at the heart of conflict besetting communities in Zimbabwe, a human rights group has said.

In its October Conflict Assessment Report, Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT), cited inter and intra-party violence outbreaks across the political divide as evidence that intolerance is on the rise.

“Political intolerance tops the nature of conflicts affecting communities in the country in the period under review. The political conflicts recorded include both inter-party conflicts and internal factional violence, particularly in Zanu PF and the MDC-T.

“The conflicts involved intimidation, assaults and open violence and these could have been increased by Zanu PF’s internal conflicts and the ensuing restructuring processes. Two cases of economic violations were recorded. No reports on socio-cultural, land and environmental conflicts were received,” the group said.

HZT said the report was compiled by a team of trained Human Rights Monitors with support from the organisation.

“The monitors report on different types of conflicts and violations obtaining in their communities. The data collected from the communities is verified through a monitoring system including spot checks, consultation with the police, traditional leaders’ courts and local government authorities. The data is also supplemented by media reports and verification,” the report added.

Examples cited in the report included the violent clashes amongst rival MDC-T supporters during the burial of the late Nkulumane lawmaker Thamsanqa Mahlangu on October 10.

“MDC-T youths allegedly clashed along factional lines after the party got itself involved in a feud between Mahlangu paternal father’s family, the Sangos and his step-father’s, the Mugovas, over the funeral and burial processes.

“The party’s rival factions allegedly divided themselves among the two families with the grouping linked to deputy president Thokozani Khupe visiting Luveve and the other belonging to former national Organising Secretary Nelson Chamisa going to Nkulumane,” said the report.

Within the same month, HZT said it had received on October 1st reports that rival Zanu PF factional activists had also clashed.

“HZT received a report that a faction allegedly aligned to Grace Mugabe youths and Vice President Mnangagwa clashed at Davies Hall in Bulawayo leading to Oddy Moyo being assaulted by supposed Vice President Mnangagwa’s enthusiasts.

“Moyo is the Provincial Youth Vice Chairperson for Bulawayo. The skirmishes took place after Moyo and others allegedly aligned to Dr Grace Mugabe went to the ruling party’s Davies Hall District offices wearing labelled T-shirts decorated with pictures of the First Lady and the late John Nkomo. The T-Shirts had a message campaigning for Grace Mugabe labelled “Munhu Wese kuna Amai,” said HZT.

It added that similar clashes also took place in September at the burial of Sikhanyiso Ndlovu at the national Heroes Acre in Harare.

Other reports cited include Grace’s declaration that Mashonaland Central was a no go area for the opposition during a rally in Rushinga.

“The First Lady’s utterances are a reflection of political intolerance which is capable of motivating political violence,” the group said.

From Harare to Kadoma, HZT cited other skirmishes between party activists from rival factions or between different parties.

The report also included the clashes between police, municipal authorities and vendors in Harare over the same months as an indication of the growing scourge of intolerance.

Scores of people have been hospitalised due to the violence.

HZT attributes most conflicts to “factional politics affecting both the opposition and the ruling party, the MDC-T and Zanu PF, respectively”. source-newzimbabwe