Traditional leaders in human rights violations storm
Traditional leaders in human rights violations storm
Traditional leaders were reported as major perpetrators of human rights violations as they continued to campaign and further the agenda of the ruling party in Matabeleland North, a Zimbabwe Peace Project report has revealed.
“In Saba village, ward 9 of Binga North, it was recorded that Chief Saba, whose legal name is Charles Mudenda, instructed all ward 9 village heads under his jurisdiction to monitor and disrupt any activity carried out by the main opposition, the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC). Village heads were instructed to disrupt the activities by stopping the villagers from attending the meetings or punishing the organisers of the events” read the report.
In a similar case that was recorded in ward 5 Mncetshwa line, Tsholotsho North where a village head identified as Moyo told villagers to vote for the ruling party as it was the only party that gave them food. Moyo is said to have made it clear that all those who failed to vote for the party risked being removed from the beneficiary list, the report noted.
The traditional leaders visibly worked in support of the ruling party.
In March 2023 at a meeting with chiefs in Bulawayo, President Mnangagwa said, “You have to defend the African heritage. You have to defend the identity and the respect of the African person by voting for the only revolutionary party in this country, Zanu PF.”
Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Chiefs Council, echoed Mnangagwa’s remarks saying traditional leaders should mobilize Zimbabweans to vote for the ruling party.
“When you cast your votes, remember that there are some people who fought for the liberation of this country,” said Charumbira.
In 2018, Electoral Resource Centre filed a High Court application against Charumbira after he had ordered traditional leaders to canvass for Zanu Pf. An order was then issued barring the active participation of chiefs; one which he continues to defy.
“This application was premised on Section 281 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that stipulates that traditional leaders must not act in a partisan manner or further the interests of any political party.’’
