AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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rights. Child labor was a problem. There were anecdotal reports of trafficking in
persons.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life.—Security forces committed several
extrajudicial killings, and in numerous other cases, army and police units participated
or provided transportation and other logistical support to perpetrators of political
violence and knowingly permitted their activities.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, an umbrella group of 9 prominent domestic
human rights organizations, reported that 58 persons were confirmed killed
as a result of political violence during the year, mostly perpetrated by supporters
of the ruling party. ZANU-PF supporters committed almost all of the killings during
the year. The majority of those killed in political violence were MDC activists or
supporters. A number of farm workers reportedly were killed in political violence;
however, exact figures were not known.
For example, on January 28, a group of men in a car accosted Tichaona
Katsamudangu in Harare and demanded to know where MDC meetings were held
and who occupied MDC party structures. The men then grabbed Katsamudangu and
attached cables from the car’s revving engine to his thighs and fingernails.
Katsamudangu later was forced to swallow an herbal substance, which induced severe
diarrhea. He died 4 days after the attacks as a result of his injuries and dehydration.
No official action was taken by year’s end.
In February war veterans and a suspected CIO officer abducted and tortured for
a month three MDC activists from Nkayi, Tembendi Ndebele, Venny Dube, and
Newman Bhebhe in an underground military-style bunker. Ndebele died of his injuries
shortly after being released. No official action was taken by year’s end.
On March 8, unknown assailants killed Amos Museva, a war veteran, on his plot
of land in Masvingo. Prior to his death Museva was embroiled in a dispute over
ownership of his plot with the daughter of the Deputy Minister of Youth, Gender,
Development, and Employment Creation. Police arrested suspects in connection
with Museva’s death; however, a trial date was not set by year’s end.
On September 22, ZANU-PF supporters hacked to death MDC supporter
Nikoniari Chibvamudeve in Hurungwe West prior to the rural district council elections.
Faston Chipurupuru, another MDC supporter who was with Chibyamudeve
at the time, sustained cranial axe wounds and barbed wire lacerations on his back.
Twelve arrests were made; however, there was no further official action by year’s
end.
At least one commercial farmer was killed during the year. Security guards of the
Government official who was to receive the property ambushed and shot him.
There were no new developments in the following 2001 cases of killings: The
March killing of a soldier in police custody; the April beating death by police of a
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student; the August death of Vusumuzi Mukweli while
in custody; and the October beating death by two army soldiers of a man in a
Guruve police station.
There was no legal action taken against members of the security forces who in
August 2001 killed 3 striking members of the Steel Workers’ Union and injured 10
others.
In November 2001, six ZDF soldiers beat and threw Lameck Chemvura, a UZ student
who they suspected of supporting the MDC, from a moving train; he subsequently
died from his injuries. The soldiers also beat and harassed other passengers.
Six soldiers were arrested; however, only one was charged with murder. The police
denied that the case was politically motivated. The Rusape magistrate court postponed
the case several times and appeared unwilling to try it by year’s end.
Lawyers from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum filed a lawsuit against
the police on behalf of the families of the 12 victims of a stampede at a soccer match
in 2000. The police failed to respond to the lawyers’ allegations that they behaved
negligently in firing tear gas into the crowd. The lawyers obtained an order from
the court compelling the police to respond to the specific allegation of negligence;
however, the police refused to comply. By year’s end, the lawyers planned to file an
application for a default judgment on behalf of the victims’ families with the court.
No further action was taken, nor was any likely to be taken, in the following 2001
cases: The March killing in Muzarabani and Hoya wards, Mashonaland Central
province of two MDC members by ZANU-PF supporters; the May assault by four
suspected ZANU-PF supporters of Misheck Mwanza that led to his subsequent
death in June; and the December abduction and killing of Augustus Chacha, an
MDC activist, by suspected ZANU-PF supporters.
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