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ZIMBABWE: Political violence continues

JOHANNESBURG, 13 August (IRIN) - While the controversial acquisition of white owned farms grabs headlines, political violence against mostly black opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters continues unabated and largely unreported, claim human rights NGO's.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said in its latest report, covering the period 1-31 July, that political violence had claimed the lives of two more people. This brought the number of deaths from politically motivated violence to 59 since 1 January 2002.

The latest victims were both MDC supporters, the organisation alleged.

"The political violence is continuing, and despite the focus in the press, particularly the UK (United Kingdom) press, over the last week on farmers and farm workers, the majority of victims of the violence are still alleged or real opposition supporters, almost all of whom are black Zimbabweans.

"In July there were two new deaths recorded, both of MDC officials. Also the youngest victim we have recorded, an 11-year-old was reportedly victimised for 'attending an MDC school'," the forum said in a statement.

The report also indicates a pattern of alleged intimidation of teachers, who have long been viewed as supporters of or sympathetic to the MDC. "At Mapanzure Secondary School in Masvingo four teachers were seriously injured after ZANU-PF supporters assaulted teachers at the school. In Zaka, ZANU-PF youths allegedly assaulted teachers suspected to be MDC supporters," the report said.

"The month of July has also seen attacks on civil servants by [ruling party] ZANU-PF supporters and war veterans. The district administrators of Matobo and Umizigwane were pushed out of their offices by war veterans ... following remarks by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing who reportedly accused civil servants of delaying the land redistribution exercise," it was alleged.

The forum claims there were 205 incidents of arson or what is describes as "malicious injury to property" in July, raising the total since the beginning of the year to 786 incidents.

Meanwhile, human rights organisation Amnesty International has expressed concern that political violence and intimidation could increase in the run-up to local government elections in Zimbabwe.

"In the run-up to local council elections in September, Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the pattern of using violence against the political opposition and abusing the neutrality of the police by government and state-sponsored 'militia' will be repeated," the organisation said.

It cited recent examples of alleged political intimidation.

"Between 28 and 29 July, seven MDC members were arrested allegedly for setting fire to three tractors at a government complex in Chipinge North. The seven accused, including the MDC vice-chairman for Manicaland, Prosper Mucheyami, and the MDC candidate for Chimanimani, Michael Shane Kidd, remained in police custody until 5 August, when they were each granted bail of Zim $20,000 (about US $375).

"While in detention they were reportedly subjected to verbal threats and psychological intimidation by police officials. In his ruling for bail, Magistrate T. Khumalo stated that there was no connection between the burning of the tractors and the seven accused. Both Mutseyami and Shane Kidd have been repeatedly arrested and harassed by police and ZANU-PF supporters, frequently organised in state-sponsored 'militias', over the past two years," Amnesty International alleged.
[ENDS]

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