Desperately Seeking Sanity: What Prospects for a New Beginning in Zimbabwe?

Abstract

In Zimbabwe's Harmonised Elections on 29 March 2008 the ruling party ZANU-PF suffered defeat in the parliamentary elections for the first time since 1980. Robert Mugabe also lost the first round of the presidential elections, indicating that both he and his party were facing the prospect of losing state power. The lack of an outright presidential winner in the first round of the elections necessitated a runoff election at the end of June 2008. Whereas the period preceding the March elections was relatively peaceful, the horrendous violence that marred the period leading up to the June runoff completely undermined the conditions for a free and fair runoff. With little pretence at creating the political climate for a democratic election, Mugabe's ZANU-PF rolled out a campaign of violence, the levels of which have not been witnessed in the country since the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland and the Midlands in the mid-1980s. Through a combination of extra-judicial executions, systematic use of torture, widespread population displacements, and a general campaign of terror, the Zimbabwean state targeted the structures and supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). As the electoral crisis deepened, the broader regional and international complexity of the Zimbabwean impasse imposed its imperatives on the unfolding crisis. Even as the Mugabe regime evoked more critical voices from within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), long-standing divisions between the West and Africa on the Zimbabwe problem reasserted themselves. On 21 July 2008 the major political parties in Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to begin negotiations for a political settlement under the auspices of the Mbeki-led SADC mediation begun in 2007. It remains to be seen whether the South African President can bring a positive conclusion to his much criticized policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’.

Notes

1. This article is a revised version of a report produced at the end of July 2008 for the Durban-based Solidarity Peace Trust. For the original report, including photographs, recommendations and other materials, go to: www.solidaritypeacetrust.org

2. Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Legal Resources Foundation (CCJP and LRP), Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace; Alexander, McGregor and Ranger, Violence and Memory; Eppel, ‘Gukurahundi: The Need for Truth and Reparation’.

3. Philip and Mahlangu, ‘Only God Will Remove Me!’.

4. Philip and Boyle, ‘Mugabe Declares War’. This position was echoed by one of Mugabe's deputy ministers, Hubert Nyanhongo, who threatened: ‘Voting for Tsvangirai is a vote for a return to war’. Moyo, ‘Zanu-PF is Going for Broke’. Similarly, Major-General Martin Chedondo, the Army chief of staff, told a military audience: ‘Soldiers are not apolitical, only mercenaries are apolitical. We should stand behind our commander-in-chief. If you have other thoughts, then you should remove that uniform’. Fabricius, Thornicroft, and Williams, ‘Outcry at Tsvangirai Arrest’.

5. Philip and Boyle, ‘Mugabe Declares War’.

6. Rukuni, ‘First Lady Shows Mettle for her Man’.

7. Commenting on this action the Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Police, Augustine Chihuri noted: ‘We wonder whom Mr. Tsvangirai is running away or hiding from. We do not have any complaints from him or his party, of any threat of violence or attempts on his life that would cause him to fear for his safety and seek sanctuary in a foreign embassy.’ ‘Tsvangirai Seeks “Refuge” at Dutch Embassy’, The Herald, 24 June 2008.

8. ‘MDC Activists Burnt to Death, Envoys Attacked’, Cape Times, 6 June 2008.

9. Peta, ‘Zimbabwe Halts Food Aid and Detains Tsvangirai’.

10. Chidyamatiyo, Kawadza, and Maodza, ‘Leave us Alone, West Told’.

11. Chidyamatiyo, Kawadza, and Maodza, ‘Leave us Alone, West Told’.

12. MDC Advert, ‘Free and Fair Impossible’.

13. MDC Press Statement on the Presidential Runoff.

14. Letter from MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai to the Chair of the Zimbabwe Election Commission, 25 June 2008.

15. ‘Civil Society Press Statement on the 27th June Presidential Run-Off’ . See also the minutes of the ‘Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Meeting to reveal MDC's Run-Off Pull out decision’, 23 June 2008, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Harare.

16. United Nations, ‘Zimbabwe: UN Security Council Presidential Statement’, 24 June 2008.

17. ‘Tsvangirai Can't Pull Out’, The Herald, 25 June 2008.

18. Southern African Development Community (SADC), Election Observer Mission, ‘Preliminary Statement’, 27 June 2008.

19. African Union Observer Mission, ‘Preliminary Statement’, 29 June 2008.

20. Pan-African Parliament Election Observer Mission, ‘The Pan-African Parliament Election Observer Mission to the Presidential Runoff and Parliamentary By-Elections in Zimbabwe: Interim Statement’, 29 June 2008.

21. ‘G8 Leaders Statement on Zimbabwe’, 27 June 2008 available at: http://www.g8summit.go.ip/eng/doc/doco8070908en.html.

22. ‘President Sworn in, Appeals for Unity’, The Herald, 30 June 2008.

23. Kawadza, ‘… No Country Should Dictate to Us: President’.

24. Fabricius, Thornicroft and Williams, ‘Outcry at Tsvangirai's arrest’.

25. SADC, ‘The SADC Troika of Heads of State and Government’’, 25 June 2008. Available at: http://www.sadc.int/attachments/news/Organ%Troika%20Summit%20Communique%20%2025%Junel%202008%English.pdf.

26. Kawadza, ‘… No Country Should Dictate to Us: President’.

27. Carter, ‘Mbeki Stands his Ground on Zimbabwe’. ‘Klipgooiers’ is the Afrikaans word for ‘stonethrowers’.

28. Fabricius, ‘Slap in Face for Mbeki’.

29. Radebe, ‘UK Seeks SA Backing for Harare Sanctions’.

30. ‘Low-key Support for Mugabe at AU’, Business Day, 7 July 2008.

31. Lauria, ‘UN Zim Vote Sours US–SA Relations’.

32. Philip and Mahlangu, ‘Only God Will Remove Me!’.

33. Mbhele and Mahlangu, ‘If You Go on Like This, There Will Be No Country Left’.

34. Mbhele, Mahlangu, and Mkhabela, ‘Frank Chikane's Lie is Exposed’.

35. Philip, ‘Mbeki Gives Mugabe Thumbs-up Again’.

36. President Tsvangirai's Statement, 8 July 2008. On the matter of the expansion of the mediation team it was reported that Tsvangirai stated that AU Commission Chair Jean Ping told him not to cooperate with Mbeki until an AU envoy was appointed to the mediation. South Africa's Deputy Foreign Minister, Aziz Pahad, claimed that this was a ‘fake issue’ and that the MDC was ‘spinning a yarn’. Muleya, ‘Tsvangirai Pulls out of Signing Talks Agreement’.

37. Memorandum of Understanding between Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) and the Two Movement for Democratic Change Formations, 21 July 2008.

38. Muleya, ‘New Dawn in Zimbabwe as Mugabe Accepts Deal’.

39. Alexander, McGregor, and Ranger, Violence and Memory.

40. Solidarity Peace Trust (SPT), ‘Punishing Dissent, Silencing Citizens’.

41. Of the 1,049 cases from June, there are 366 victims not yet entered into the database. All information pertaining to June therefore understates by 30 per cent the scale of what has happened, in terms of numbers of injuries, perpetrators and types of offences (an understatement further increased by the time lag in seeking help).

42. Interviews, Harare, 4 July 2008, and Bulawayo, 10 July 2008.

43. Paraquat is a highly poisonous weed killer.

44. Interview, Gelfand Clinic, 3 July 2008.

45. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), ‘Unwarranted Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Legitimate Political Opponents Continue’, 3 June 2008.

46. Interview with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Harare, 4 July 2008.

47. Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR), statement, 26 June 2008.

48. Patience Rusere, ‘Police in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Raid NGO Offices, Arrest Organiser’, 18 July 2008, Voice of America.

49. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has produced regular updates on the harassment of journalists this year. For example, ‘Strengthening Civil Society Dialogue and Democratic Discourse in SADC.’

50. Ndira was abducted at 5 a.m. on 14 May by eight men in suits and taken away in a truck with different number plates on the front and back. An official autopsy conducted after his body was recovered a week later indicated that he had died of asphyxiation, probably very shortly after abduction. It was erroneously reported in the media that Ndira had had his lips and tongue cut out; the independent pathologist who conducted the autopsy confirmed that the disfigurement of his face was caused purely by maggot activity. This was a very professional, targeted assassination of a key activist. Interview with Reginald Perumal, the pathologist who conducted the post mortem.

51. Interviews with healthcare staff in Harare, 3 July 2008.

52. Interview with family of Tonderai Ndira, 24 May 2008.

53. Interview, Harare, 4 July 2008.

54. Eppel, ‘Healing the Dead’.

55. CCJP & LRF, Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace.

56. CCJP & LRF, Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace., and for a further example, ‘Exposed: The Mnangagwa, Makoni Plot’, Zimbabwe Times, 17 July 2008.

57. ‘Zimbabwe Opposition Activists Poisoned as Political Violence Continues’, Voice of America (VOA), 15 July 2008. ‘Zimbabwe opposition activists poisoned as political violence continues’.

58. Solidarity Peace Trust (SPT), ‘Policing the State’.

59. Bill Watch 29/2008, 18 July 2008, available at www.veritaszimbabwe.org

60. Bill Watch 29/2008, 18 July 2008, available at www.veritaszimbabwe.org

61. Freeth, ‘I Felt No Hatred’. Freeth is one of the commercial farmers who was beaten.

62. ‘War Veteran Jailed for Stock Theft’, The Standard, 20 July 2008.

63. ‘Mugabe's Party Deserts Supporters’, The Daily Nation, 21 July 2008.

64. The Chronicle, Bulawayo, 22 July 2008.

65. ‘Join Blair in London War Vets Tell MDC Returnees’, The Standard, 20 July 2008.

66. SPT, ‘Punishing Dissent, Silencing Citizens’.

67. Analysis of 3,320 interviews used in this report.

68. These names appear repeatedly in written interviews with victims.

69. This information given directly to authors by the victim himself, who was hospitalized with severe injuries. He named the MP as being among the perpetrators over the days of his torture.

70. Anon. ‘Unlawful Combatants – ZANU-PF's Militia, Foreign Fighters and Mercenaries’, Harare Tribune, 17 July 2008. Patrick Chitaka, the MDC Chair in Manicaland stated: ‘We have observed that some people leading the violence are foreigners because they speak a different language and they do not understand our local languages. Also the tactics they are using are not peculiar to Zimbabwe, because they are cutting out the tongue, removing eyes and genital parts. We are not sure where they come from.’ ‘Mugabe Now Using Mercenaries’, Cape Times, 16 July 2008.

71. With the possible exception of the Mashonaland provinces, Bulawayo in Matabeleland is better endowed in terms of NGOs to which people can report violations and seek help than other provinces. It is likely that over time there will be an increase in reports surfacing from the Midlands and Masvingo, once it is possible to access rural areas in these provinces and establish what has gone on there. Eye witness reports and the experience of the authors over the last three months would suggest that Matabeleland has been comparatively, although certainly not entirely, unscathed by violence since April.

72. SPT, ‘Punishing Dissent, Silencing Citizens’ – the most shocking example being the massacre of eight people in Mazowe Central within the vicinity of a polling station that received 80 MDC votes.

73. Analysis of Matabeleland data held by the authors.

74. Interview with Harare health professional who received the severed limbs in a bag, 24 June 2008.

75. Interview, Harare, 4 July 2008.

76. Multiple interviews with Harare voters, 3 July 2008.

77. Authors’ notes from interviews.

78. Interviews with eye witnesses, including pastors from these areas, 28 June 2008.

79. Interviews with Bulawayo residents, and authors’ observations, 24 July 2008.

80. Statement at press conference by UNICEF's Regional Director for Eastern & Southern Africa, given by Per Engebak, 27 May 2008.

81. ‘Preliminary Statement of the African Union Observer Mission’, 29 June 2008; Pan African Parliamentary Observer Mission to the Presidential Run-off and the Parliamentary By-Elections in Zimbabwe – Interim Statement, 29 June 2008; SADC Election Observer Mission, ‘Preliminary Statement’, 29 June 2008.

82. ‘Maybe I Am Pregnant, or Maybe I Have HIV Now. No One Can Help’, The Times, 8 July 2008; ‘Zimbabwean Women Face HIV Risk Following Rape as Political Violence’, Voice of America (VOA), 14 July 2008.

83. Interviews with displaced persons from Lupane, 15 July 2008

84. Interviews with victims from Gwanda, 18 July, 2008.

85. Interviews with victims from Gwanda, 18 July, 2008.

86. ‘MDC Supporters Released’, The Standard, 20 July 2008.

87. The statistics gathered by the authors identifies only 1 per cent of victims as ZANU-PF out of all those seeking health care through an extensive network inclusive of some government hospitals and most private hospitals countrywide.

88. Interviews in Bulawayo relating to bases in Gwanda and Insiza, 24 July 2008. See also: ‘As Zimbabwe Talks Begin, Abductions of Opposition Members Continue’, Voice of America, 25 July 2008; Amnesty International, ‘Climate of Fear in Zimbabwe Persists Despite Deal’, 25 July 2008.

89. Interview with Harare activists, 12 July 2008.

90. Hundreds of interviews refer to ‘kangaroo courts’ at the village level, with livestock and possessions being extracted from MDC supporters as ‘fines’ for not supporting the ruling party. Looting and destruction of goods has occurred on a wide scale over the last three months – as the 450 victims who have claimed property loss clearly indicate. In the authors’ opinion, it is easier to trigger off looting with impunity than to stop it.