Source: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
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Summary
This report presents an update of organized violence and torture (OVT) for the month of November 2016. A total of 31 cases were recorded, from victims that received medical treatment for injuries sustained in incidences of politically motivated violence across the country. ZANU-PF supporters and mixed groups of suspected state agents continue to account for the larger share of violations that were recorded during the period. Cases of targeted arson for political affiliation were reported in Mt Darwin district, reflective of previous eras of increasing targeted violence. The police refused to take action in each of these cases of arson where members of the Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party lost their property when suspected ZANU-PF supporters torched their homesteads.
The abduction of members of social movements that started in September continued in November. Compound teams of suspected state agents comprising members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and members from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) carried out these abductions. Suspected state agents in Mufakose Harare attacked seven members of a group of activists’ leaders. Six of the victims sustained serious injuries, one managed to escape without injuries and two of the injured were abducted, severely tortured and dumped naked in separate locations out of Harare. The two cars they were travelling in were shot at, destroyed and burnt. The victims were organizing a citizens’ protest against the release of bond notes in Zimbabwe, a desperate attempt by the government to address the crippling cash shortage.
In a separate incident on 17 November 2016 members of the army reportedly assaulted and raped a female victim in Harare for denouncing the State president and the introduction of bond notes. Violations for the month of October involved torture, rape, abduction, arson, displacement and assaults.
Download full document (383KB PDF)
Source: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum