By Leonnel Mhuka
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has exposed serious failings by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and judicial authorities in handling a high-profile case of political violence in Murehwa District, Mashonaland East, where nine Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members were assaulted by ruling ZANU–PF activists.
The findings were tabled at a Commission Meeting on Complaints Handling and Investigations held on 9 April 2025 at the ZHRC Boardroom in Harare. The investigation was triggered after CCC supporters reported that on 23 August 2022 they were violently attacked after a ward meeting, stripped of party regalia, and robbed of personal belongings including mobile phones, money, and clothing.
Police Delays and Mishandling
According to the ZHRC, the complainants reported the matter at Nhakiwa Police Base two days after the attack, but no arrests were made for months. Instead of following due process, the accused ZANU–PF members were later summoned to court through their party chairman rather than being personally served, a move the magistrates’ court described as “astonishing” and a clear breach of procedure.
The trial eventually began in March 2023, nearly seven months after the assault, with only three of the alleged nine perpetrators facing charges. Even then, prosecutors reduced the case to common assault charges, ignoring the victims’ consistent testimonies about stolen property and destroyed belongings.
The Mutawatawa Magistrates’ Court questioned why theft was excluded from the charges and chastised the police for partisan handling of the matter. Ultimately, the three accused were acquitted on some counts, leaving the victims with no restitution for their losses.
ZHRC’s Findings
The Commission concluded that:
- The ZRP failed in its constitutional duty to uphold the law without fear or favour.
- The police displayed partisan conduct, protecting ruling party activists while neglecting opposition victims.
- The victims’ political rights, equality before the law, and right to administrative justice were all violated.
- The mishandling of the case undermined public trust in law enforcement and the justice system.
About Accountability and Compensation
Human rights advocates argue that beyond censuring police misconduct, the victims deserve compensation for their stolen and destroyed property. “Justice delayed is justice denied, but in this case justice was not only delayed — it was distorted,” said one civil society representative following the report’s release.
The ZHRC recommended that the Minister of Home Affairs oversee corrective measures within the ZRP, and that the National Prosecuting Authority strengthen oversight of politically sensitive cases to prevent bias. It also called on ZANU–PF leadership in Mashonaland East to publicly denounce political violence and discipline party members involved in intimidation.
A Test for the Rule of Law
This case exposes Zimbabwe’s persistent struggle with politically motivated violence and selective application of the law. The victims who are just ordinary villagers from Uzumba aligned with the opposition, continue to live with both physical scars and financial losses from the attack.
Without compensation for destroyed property and accountability for perpetrators, observers warn that such abuses will continue to erode confidence in state institutions and embolden political violence ahead of future elections.
“The law must protect every Zimbabwean equally,” the ZHRC report emphasizes. “Failure to act fairly undermines democracy itself.”
