Zimbabwe: Current information on arrests or harassment of opponents of the Zanu PF party or of supporters of Margaret Dongo; information on Margaret Dongo's current whereabouts

In a telephone interview conducted on 19 April 1999,  the A/Director of Transparency International in Zimbabwe stated that there is harrassment of supporters of opposition groups particularly at election time.

"Parliamentary elections are due to be held in the year 2000" and campaigning has already begun, according to the source.  The A/Director described the type of harassment as "plenty and very systematic, information [being collected]" on all officials and that if an individual were to be identified as a supporter of an opposition group, "particularly if they are weak and vulnerable - provision of housing and of employment [which is managed by Zanu-PF supporters] would be made difficult for them."  The A/Director  added that "even physical" harassment was possible and that the "two organs usually responsible" for this harassment are either the Women's League or the Youth League of Zanu-PF."  The A/Director also added that the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) engages in harassment such as telephone wiretapping, and at election time a "form of vote rigging, through the office of the Registrar General who is also Chairman of the Electoral Commission."  The A/Director added that the "most perennial complaint of opposition supporters is omission of names from voter registries"  and that at election time voters can be physically stopped from going to voter stations by the Women's League or Youth League and by the Special Constabulary.  The A/Director further added that when formed, Margaret Dongo's party following was a loose union of opposition groups but that when she founded the Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD) in 1998,  her party became the "single biggest opposition party."  In 1998, the A/Director reports, a fire bomb hit Dongo's car.

An article in the Zimbabwe Standard  dated 11 April 1999 also reports incidents of  "individuals being assaulted,  harassed and intimidated by Zanu-PF members ... as being on the increase."  The same article cites Margaret Dongo describing the perpetrators as committing these acts " with impunity" (ibid.).  An article in The Independent dated 17 February 1998 reports Dongo's claim that she was the victim of a  petrol bomb attack at a home in Chitungwiza, outside of Harare and that this attack was perpetrated by supporters of the Zanu-PF."   According to an article by AFP dated 17 April 1996,  Margaret Dongo alledged that the Zanu-PF party of President Robert Mugabe was harassing her.

An article in the Johannesburg Mail & Guardian (Internet Version) dated 27 June 1997 relates "fears (on the part of civil rights groups)  that the country is reverting to its past habits of electoral intimidation."   It goes on to report that "Parliamentary elections in 1985 and 1990 were characterised by assaults by ZANU-PF members on opposition supporters."   The same article reports opponents registration of outsiders in an  electoral constituency and refers to this practice as "a tactic the party used to block independent candidate Margaret Dongo's election to Parliament in 1995."   The same article further reports that "Dongo only went on to win after the courts (...) stepped in, and in the face of intimidation from Mugabe's ministers and party supporters."

On the issue of arrests of opposition supporters,  an AFP article dated 17 April 1996 cites Margaret Dongo's aide as saying the police had a list of 32 supporters, but they only picked up two which have since been released.  In the same article the aide accuses police of siding with the Zanu-PF and "taking political sides."  He further adds that "senior district Zanu-PF members drove around the suburb in a van, carrying a coffin and shouting they would bury Dongo and Maluleke (another independent MP)."  In the same AFP article Dongo denounces the stoning of her house by "some 60 youths while she was out of the country." 

The two following articles indicate measures against the media relative to perceived opposition.  An article in The Indian Ocean Newsletter dated 6 March 1999 reports on the recent "... incarceration and torture of two journalists,  [further commenting that] Zimbabwe's security services clearly do not tolerate over-radical dissenting voices."   An Inter Press Service article dated 28 January 1996 reports on "the  blacklisting at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) of three perceived government opponents, with an internal circular ordering all ZBC reporters to submit stories on (the opponents) for approval.  Among  those blacklisted was Margaret Dongo...".  (ibid)

Two recent articles indicate that tolerance for dissent within the ranks of the Zanu-PF is limited.  An article dated 11 April 1999 in the Zimbabwe Standard  outlines threats received by the former ZANU PF secretary for economic affairs and his subsequent complaint lodged to police.  A second article in The Indian Ocean Newsletter dated 10 April 1999 states that "Ultra-conservative leaders of the ZANU-PF government party have begun a campaign of denunciation of party MPs they consider too critical of the government,  to prevent them being selected to stand in next year's general election."

An internet search found the name of Margaret Dongo as one of the Zimbabwe guests at a regional conference on the environment organized by the Globe Southern Africa Network which took place in Cape Town on 4-5 September 1998.  The 1999 Camden Conference on Foreign Affairs and Sub-Saharan Africa scheduled to take place from 26 to 28 February 1999 in Camden, Maine, cites Margaret Dongo on its list of invitees.  No further information about the current whereabouts of Margaret Dongo could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.  Please find below a list of additional sources consulted.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP).  17 April 1996.  "Independent MP Alleges Harassment in Zimbabwe."  (Global News Bank)

Camden Conference on Foreign Affairs, Camden, Maine.  26-28 February 1999.  List of Conference Speakers.  [Internet] [Accessed 15 Apr. 1999]

Globe Southern Africa Network, Cape Town, South Africa.  4-5 September 1998.  List of Network Members. [Internet]  [Accessed 15 Apr. 1999]

The Independent [London].  17 February 1998.  "Bomb Attack".   (Newspaper Publishing PLC/NEXIS).

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris].  10 April 1999. "Smell of Purge in Zanu-PF." (Indigo Publications/NEXIS).

_____.  6 March 1999.  No. 848.  "Zimbabwe:  Trade unions get into the lion's den." 

Inter Press Service.  28 January 1996.  "Write What I Say."  (Global Newsbank).

Johannesburg Mail & Guardian (Internet Version) .  27 June 1997.   "Zimbabwe:  Mugabe ZANU-PF Party Youth 'Beat Up' Independent Candidate."  (FBIS-AFR-97-178 27 June 1997/WNC)

Transparency International Zimbabwe, Harare.  14 April 1999.  Telephone interview with A/Director.

Zimbabwe Standard [Harare].  11 April 1999.  "Zimbabwe;  Former Zanu PF Cadre At UZ Receives Threats".  (Africa News/NEXIS).

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Research Bulletin:  Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 25 January 1999.

BBC News (Internet).  19 December 1998.  "World:  Africa New Zimbabwean Political Party."

The Economist. April 1999.

Electronic sources:  IRB Databases.