Army accused of brutality in townships

Zimbabwean human rights groups have protested over the alleged brutality of army units deployed in township “flashpoints” in the wake of the political violence that surrounded last month’s parliamentary elections.

In “high-density” suburbs around the capital Harare and other main towns joint army and police patrols have been accused of beatings, intimidation, and the closure of beer halls and nightclubs. Even the official ‘The Herald’ newspaper on Thursday reported a “public outcry” over the “strong-arm tactics” and “high-handedness” of the soldiers in particular.

“They are dispersing crowds they see in pubs or beer halls even if they are gathered innocently,” Nicholas Ndebele, the national chairman of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association told IRIN. “We see it as punishment for people for having voted MDC.”

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said this week that the allegations of brutality had not been substantiated and people claiming to have been beaten up by the patrols should report to the police. He justified the deployment of the army in the townships on the grounds that their withdrawal would result in a resurgence of political violence between supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change, the opposition party which swept urban areas in last month’s election.

“Our analysis is that the presidential campaign has already started,” Ndebele said, referring to presidential elections in 2002. “Unfortunately the government and the ruling party know no other method of convincing people other than fear and intimidation.”

“If that analysis is correct,” he added, “we are going to witness more violence into the foreseeable future.”