Election violence intimidates rights defenders: MIHR

Mabel Khumalo

Political violence which characterised the recently held Zimbabwean local authority by- elections has caused fear among  environmental and community water rights defenders thereby by preventing them from openly challenging companies and individuals responsible for environmental pollution, says Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR).

Politically motivated violence which occurred in Matobo ward 2 and Insiza ward during the run up to the 22 October local authority elections, left a trail of destruction as many were injured and some women stripped naked.

MIHR hosted a Community Environmental Rights Defenders virtual environmental risk analysis meeting whose aim was to evaluate the present and potential environmental risks for November and December 2022. During the meeting, environmental defenders raised concern about the recent incidences of political violence and highlighted how it has impacted their freedom to organise and challenge unjust environmental policies and decisions. 

It was noted that politically motivated electoral violence creates an unfavourable working environment for environmental rights organisations as a large number of environmental crimes are committed by those linked to political big wigs.

 “This violence especially at a time when the nation is gearing towards the 2023 general elections affects the confidence of environmental advocates as they fear that should they openly challenge environmental crimes happening in their communities caused by mining companies, sand poachers, wood poachers and farming enterprises, the connected elites will use similar organised thugs to attack those who speak out,” said the MIHR Coordinator Khumbulani Maphosa.

Furthermore, MIHR notes that despite the commencement of the rainy season, local mechanisms to respond to rainfall induced disasters are still not ready to sufficiently deal with potential environmental and climate change disasters. 

“Local people are vulnerable to environmental hazards as public infrastructure in some communities was destroyed by the storms of the past rainy season and has not been since repaired,” said MIHR.

The organisation says it shares the same concerns with environmentalists who a disappointed by the lack of corresponding efforts by local authorities to promote the renovation of all rural public facilities to be climate resilient. 

Public infrastructure such as roads, schools, and clinics have been the worst affected by violent storms and are incapable of providing temporary shelter to local communities in rural areas in case of environmental emergencies as they are old and dilapidated.