By Staff Reporter
A recent report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has highlighted a disturbing trend in Masvingo Province where human rights violations surged to alarming levels and the province being ranked among the top for human rights abuses for the second consecutive month.
According to the ZPP report Masvingo and Harare recorded the highest number of violations in May.
“Provincially, Masvingo and Harare recorded the highest number of violations in May, with 13 and 16 violations respectively. Midlands followed closely with 12 violations, while Manicaland and Mashonaland West each documented 10. Mashonaland Central experienced a notable decline from 13 violations the previous month to 4 in May. Mashonaland East recorded 9 violations, and both Matabeleland North and South recorded 6 violations each,” reads the report.
In April Masvingo was the highest followed by Harare and the trend show the two provinces as major violators of human rights.
Just like in April Zanu PF was named again the major perpetrator followed by other parties and perpetrators as analysed in the report.
“Of the total 5,376 people affected, 3,107 were females and 2,269 were males. Among the perpetrators, those affiliated with the ruling party, ZANU PF, accounted for 35.38 percent, followed by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) at 13.77percent.
“Other violators included local authorities (16.53percent), government officials (11.44percent), artisanal miners (5.93percent), traditional leaders (6.14 percent), members of the MDC-Alliance (0.64 percent) and unaffiliated individuals (6.36percent). Additional perpetrators involved members of the Zimbabwe National Army (0.21 percent) and vendors (3.6 percent). State security actors, particularly those mandated to protect the public, continue to feature prominently among perpetrators of human rights violations,
“In Masvingo, 13 human rights violations affecting 722 (359 men and 363 women including 28 PWDs) victims were documented in May, reflecting a troubling pattern of discrimination, neglect of basic services, and abuse of authority,” reads part of the ZPP report.
The report explained how learners at Boora Secondary school were denied access to education.
“At Boora Secondary School, students were denied access to education by the headmistress and School Development Committee members due to non-payment of fees, violating the right to education and exacerbating inequality among economically vulnerable families.
The report further explained the loopholes that were within the health sector in Gutu where nurses stole medication from the hospital.
“In the health sector, the right to health was severely compromised at Gutu Rural Hospital, where nurses allegedly stole medication, resulting in patients being denied essential treatment. This theft, followed by violent interrogation of the nurses, highlighted both systemic corruption and violations of due process and protection from inhuman treatment.
“Further, patients at the same hospital were discharged without medication for critical conditions such as hypertension and sexually transmitted infections, while the mortuary remained non-functional and the hospital kitchen lacked food, forcing patients to bring their own supplies, a clear denial of the right to health and dignity,” reads part of the report.
The report further explained how the elderly were treated unfairly and also the case of political discrimination in Bikita.
“In Mwenezi North, ward 6, the elderly were neglected, as evidenced by the case of 87-year-old Gogo Sibanda, who was denied free medical care at Sarahuro Clinic. Her experience of inadequate care and delayed meals constitutes a violation of the right to health and humane treatment for older persons.
“In a case of political discrimination, the MP for Bikita South openly declared that wards 4, 28, and 29 would be excluded from development programs such as Constituency Development Funds and devolution projects because they did not vote for him. This public exclusion violates the principles of non-discrimination, equality before the law, and the right to development,” reads part of the report.
In Mashonaland East, 10 human rights violations were documented. The violations include systemic political intimidation, abuse of public institutions, and denial of basic social services. Patients at local clinics were being charged US$1 security fees per visit without receiving treatment, only basic checks such as blood pressure and temperature before being referred elsewhere or told to buy their own medication, including essentials like paracetamol.
In UMP’s Museka District, villagers were coerced to pay US$3 for the ZANU PF party cards failure to do were threatened with exclusion from state aid and essential services like cattle dipping. Elderly pensioners were especially targeted, with intimidation tactics including the use of party-linked “security” enforcers.
An estimated troubling report of massive eviction where 4 000 people were forcibly evicted from land and the associated reports of police brutality, and property destruction. Murewa, traditional leaders also issued threats of violence against residents. These violations underscore a disturbing pattern of politically motivated repression, exploitation of vulnerable groups, and the erosion of fundamental rights in the province.
In Matabeleland South, six human rights violations were documented. The violations affected 11 (8 men and 3 women) people, reflecting a troubling mix of violence, mismanagement of aid, and disputes over natural resources. In Gwanda, an elderly woman was attacked by two men shortly after receiving food aid with the intention of dispossessing her of the aid. In Gwanda, a traditional leader was implicated in the misuse of cement donated for hospital construction, raising concerns about abuse of authority and misappropriation of resources meant for essential public services.
A violent conflict erupted among artisanal miners over control of a gold mine, resulting in the mine owner being struck with an axe, an alarming indication of lawlessness and lack of effective regulation in the mining sector. These incidents underscore weak community protections, poor accountability in aid and resource management, and on-going threats to the safety and dignity of vulnerable citizens.
In Harare Province, 16 human rights violations were documented. 220 (105 men and 115 women) people were affected. In addition to service delivery related human right violations, other violations include politically motivated violence and unlawful police conduct. In Chitungwiza, a well-known opposition supporter was wrongfully accused of attending a political gathering when they had actually participated in a local Workers’ Day celebration; this individual was assaulted by police at night, detained, further beaten in custody, and charged with unlawful conduct.
In Chitungwiza, a former local authority elected official, aligned with the opposition party CCC, faced repeated abduction attempts by suspected Zanu PF operatives, who arrived in three Fortuner vehicles with multiple occupants at her home in Zengeza. Despite their efforts on three separate occasions, the victim escaped, but the intimidation has caused severe distress. The police have not arrested any suspects, and the victim’s family believes the attackers are linked to the ruling party. These incidents underscore serious violations of the rights to personal security, freedom from torture and harassment, and political participation.
Together, these cases paint a grim picture of service delivery failures, political retribution, and neglect of vulnerable groups, undermining citizens’ dignity, safety, and access to basic rights.
