By Rangarirai Shanyurai
Masvingo Province has witnessed a notable decline in human right violations with reported cases dropping from 23 in December 2024 to 11 in January 2025 marking a significant improvement in the province’s human rights record.
This was revealed in the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)’s monthly report which TellZim News has in possession of, for the month of January.
The recorded violations included unfair distribution of food aid as well as the disregard of the right to equality and non-discrimination.
In one case, a young female student was denied the right to access education as councillor Tapiwa Ngorima of Mwenezi North, ward 6 removed the victim’s name from a CAMFED scholarship’s beneficiary list because her mother did not attend ZANU PF meetings.
Manicaland recorded the highest number of violations, 24, in January 2025. In one incident, ZANU PF leaders looted fertilizer, distributing one bag per three people to non-party members, while party members received one bag each. Harare province recorded 10 documented.
In Mashonaland West 12 human rights violations were documented while 14 were reported in Mashonaland East. In Midlands Province, 13 human rights violations were documented in January alone. In Mashonaland Central, 13 human rights violations were documented, against 5 in the previous month.
The monthly report indicated that more than 100 cases of human rights violations were recorded countrywide.
“In the month of January, the ZPP documented 119 human rights violations. The violations included threats of violence, assault, unfair distribution of aid and instances of degrading treatment.
“26 violations of unfair food aid distribution, affecting 1135 people, 628 women and 507 men. Traditional leaders and ruling party officials have been at the fore front of this discriminatory practice.
“Violations against fundamental freedoms were also recorded, among them breaches of the rights to freedom of assembly and association, freedom of expression and restricted access to social services. There were unjustified arrests of victims by the police force as well as restricted access to information,” part of the report reads.
The report also indicated that the ruling party Zanu PF and the Zimbabwe Republic Police topped the list of violators, also revealing that perpetrators were predominantly affiliated with the ruling party, as they made up 46percent of the total, while Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members accounted for 16percent.
“Other violators included local authorities (10.4%), CCC members (7.6%), artisanal miners (3.6%), traditional leaders (2.8%), war veterans (2%) and government security agents (2%). Notably, 9.6% of the perpetrators were not linked to any specific group or organization,” part of the statement reads.
