By Staff Writer
THE Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) has bemoaned rising post elections violence in Zimbabwe on the back of documenting 153 cases of politically motivated violence during the period.
In a report titled The New “Error” focused on Zimbabwe’s post-election period between vote-casting day and September 30, ZHRNGO Forum describes the behaviour as threatening genuine attempts at democracy.
The report chronicles 153 cases of alleged state or party-sponsored organised violence, including two killings of perceived opposing individuals.
An independent body to investigate the cases was suggested.
“The unprecedented levels of post-election victimization are not only uncharacteristic of a victorious political party but pose a severe threat to genuine democratic consolidation in Zimbabwe.
The Forum and some of its member organisations continue to receive distress calls from presiding officers, polling agents and some local observers who are being harassed for the work that they did in the just-ended harmonised elections.
Adds the report: “Given the precarious political environment, the country finds itself in presently in the aftermath of the 2023 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections, the Forum accordingly calls upon members of the diplomatic community to urgently call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to act immediately to put an end to the unprecedented levels of post-election victimisation in the country.
“To show a genuine commitment to do so by setting up an independent commission of inquiry to conduct thorough, transparent and expeditious investigations into all reported instances of post-election related human rights violations cited in this report and to make the findings of the investigation public.
“To call upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate and bring to justice the killers of Mayibongwe Dube and Persuade Mandara as well as to ensure justice and closure for the family of Tinashe Edson Chitsunge (16) who died as a result of pre-election OVT on 3 August 2023 by bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
