publications

VIII. Government Response to the Abuses

The government of Zimbabwe’s response to the violence taking place around the country has been contradictory and grossly duplicitous. While behind the scenes senior officials are organizing the violence, publicly the government has both tried to downplay and distance itself from it.

On the one hand, the government has claimed that reports of violence have been exaggerated by the western media, that the MDC is the main perpetrator and that government officials and security forces have no responsibility for it. On the other hand, the authorities have made statements denouncing the abuses and have called for “multi-party” committees to look into ways of addressing the violence.112

The government and the state security forces and other state agents are fully responsible for the violence. The authorities have failed to ensure that the police deal impartially with the perpetrators of violence regardless of their affiliation. By allowing the main perpetrators of these abuses to act with impunity the government of Zimbabwe bears full responsibility for the serious crimes committed in its name.

Failure of the Police to Prevent Violence

While this report has described a number of incidents when police officers stepped in to rescue victims or to break up beatings, in most cases, police have failed to take action when ZANU-PF and its allies have assaulted alleged MDC supporters. Victims have consistently complained of the reluctance of law enforcement officers to deal with the violence. In several cases documented by Human Rights Watch where victims made reports of assault and other human rights abuses to the police, the standard response from the police was to note the incident and take no further action. Almost invariably no arrests were made by the police in cases of political violence.

A 41-year-old man told Human Rights Watch that on April 12, he reported to police at Nyamapanda police station that “war veterans” and ZANU-PF supporters had assaulted him, stolen a radio and sewing machine from his hut, and then burned down his huts and maize. He said the police at the station simply noted his case but took no further action.113

A woman who was severely assaulted by ZANU-PF supporters and “war veterans” in Mudzi, Mashonaland East was taken by relatives to Kotwa Police Station to make a report. Four other victims of political violence accompanied her. At the station the police simply gave the victims letters to take to Kotwa hospital for medical attention. Although the woman could identify her assailants—they were ZANU-PF youths from her village—the police took no action in the case.114

Police officers and others have told Human Rights Watch that the police are under strict instructions not to interfere with “political issues” and are not in a position to assist victims.115 These police officers said that police are operating under the instructions of senior army and government officials and are thus unable to operate independently in dealing with the violence.116

For example, a 38-year-old man from Mutoko reported being beaten by ZANU-PF supporters on April 10 at his home. When he made a report at Mutoko Central Police Station the police officer handling his case allegedly said, “Go and fight back, the police will not interfere in political issues.”117 A woman told Human Rights Watch that when she reported her case at the same police station, she was told that police at the station were under strict instructions from their superiors not to arrest those involved in political violence or interfere in any way.

In another case, a man who reported his case at Janhi police station in Mutoko South, Mashonaland East was told by police that they would only pursue his case after the violence and political disturbances were over and things had calmed down.118 In Uzumba, Mashonaland East, police allegedly told one victim: “We cannot guarantee your security because the people who attacked you are not controllable, so it is better you leave the area for now.”119

Police only appear to respond with urgency to acts of violence where there are allegations of MDC responsibility. The quick reaction by the police on April 15 and 16 in arresting hundreds of MDC supporters alleged to have burned a bus in Harare lies in stark contrast to the lack of arrests in incidents involving known “war veterans” and ZANU-PF supporters.

Human Rights Watch documented only two cases of politically motivated violence in which police had made arrests. In Karoi on April 12, police arrested four ZANU-PF activists suspected of stabbing to death Tapiwa Mbwanda120 The four are now in custody and their case is before the Chinhoyi Magistrates court. In Manicaland, police arrested four ZANU-PF supporters following the torching of several homes belonging to MDC supporters.121 However the four were subsequently released without charge.

The lack of police action to deal with the “war veterans” and youth militia has also allowed these groups to take control of rural areas, through the creation of "no-go" areas across broad swathes of countryside. The police in many of these areas appear to have relinquished control to the “war veterans” and youth militias. This failure to investigate and arrest perpetrators is exacerbated by the direct involvement of the police, often alongside ZANU-PF supporters and their allies, in politically motivated abuses, including arbitrary arrests, beatings, torture and abductions.




112 “ZEC to establish multi-party liaison committees,” Xinhua news agency, May 18, 2008, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/19/content_8203117.htm (accessed May, 28, 2008).

113 Human Rights Watch interview, Harare, April 17, 2008.

114 Human Rights Watch interview, Harare, April 17, 2008.

115 Human Rights Watch interviews with police and prison services officers, Harare, May 19, 2008.

116 Human Rights Watch interviews with police and prison services officers, Harare, May 19, 2008.

117 Human Rights Watch interview with 38-year-old man, Harare April 17, 2008. Failure to act by the police is not a new phenomenon. At the height of the “farm invasions” in 2000, the police refused to comply with court orders to evict war veterans who had invaded farms, arguing that police did not have sufficient resources to handle the matter. See, for example, Commissioner of Police v. Commercial Farmers Union, Case No. HC3985/2000.

118 Human Rights Watch interview, Harare, April 17, 2008.

119 Human Rights Watch interview, Harare, April 17, 2008.

120 Human Rights Watch interview, Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, April 30, 2008.

121 Human Rights Watch interview with victims, Harare, April 21, 2008.