Zimbabwe: Government use of the army and airforce in response to opposition since 1999; government reaction to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters within the army and airforce; criminal charges one would face for harbouring an army or airforce deserter
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 October 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE40097.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Government use of the army and airforce in response to opposition since 1999; government reaction to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters within the army and airforce; criminal charges one would face for harbouring an army or airforce deserter , 9 October 2002, ZWE40097.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e4011.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In addition to information found in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000 and 2001 (23 Feb. 2001; 4 Mar. 2002) regarding the government's use of the army in response to opposition since 1999, please consult a report by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (HRF) entitled Politically Motivated Violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2001; A Report on the Campaign of Political Repression Conducted by the Zimbabwean Government Under the Guise of Carrying out Land Reform (Aug. 2001). The HRF report includes sections on targets of violence and the role of government, war veterans and security agencies, including the Zimbabwe National Army, as well as case studies of army attacks on civilians who allegedly supported the opposition; these sections are attached along with the introduction and background.
Although not specifically alleging government involvement, one report of the airforce speaking against the political opposition was found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate (The Daily News 10 Jan. 2002). During an address to journalists at the Defence Headquarters in Harare, national defence and security force chiefs, including Air Marshal Perence Shiri, announced that they "would not accept a president who does not suit their requirements such as possessing credible liberation war credentials," a requirement that the leader of the opposition does not meet (ibid.). The security force chiefs accused Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President, of "trying to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle" (ibid.). No additional information could be found regarding the use of the airforce in response to opposition since 1999 among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Regarding the treatment of MDC supporters within the army and airforce, three reports referring to army personnel were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate (The Zimbabwe Independent 5 Apr. 2002; SAPA 5 Mar. 2002; The Daily News 23 Aug. 2002).
The Daily News reported that Ernest Moyowangu Chuma and two fellow Zimbabwean soldiers had fled to Botswana to avoid "interrogation by Zimbabwean army intelligence officers for [their] alleged support for the opposition MDC party" (ibid.). Reportedly, the soldiers were "scared" by the "frequent" interrogation for their alleged MDC sympathies and fled to a refugee camp near Francistown as a "transit point for asylum elsewhere" (ibid.).
The South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on 5 March 2002 that members of the Zimbabwean defence force were "suing for their benefits, after they were dismissed from the country's army, allegedly because they were opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters." In addition, it is alleged that "the army and the police are purging opposition supporters from their ranks" (SAPA 5 Mar. 2002).
On 5 April 2002, The Zimbabwe Independent reported that "the army has embarked on a punishment drive against personnel alleged to have campaigned for the opposition ... in the disputed presidential election." According to the report, "dozens of soldiers were detained" and "senior officers are out to punish them on false accusations" since younger soldiers who did not fight in the war of independence are viewed as liberal and believed to be sympathetic to the opposition (The Zimbabwe Independent 5 Apr. 2002). The report claims that the soldiers will eventually be discharged from the army without benefits (ibid.).
No information regarding the government's reaction to MDC supporters within the airforce nor information regarding the criminal charges an individual would face if found harbouring army or airforce deserters could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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 the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 23 February 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. The Daily News [Harare]. 23 August 2002. "Zimbabwe; Soldiers Flee to Botswana." (Africa News/NEXIS)
_____. 10 January 2002. Sandra Nyaira, Lloyd Mudiwa and Columbus Mavhunga. "Army Backs Mugabe." South African Press Association (SAPA). 5 March 2002. "Purge of Zim Military, Police, Feared." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (HRF). August 2001. Politically Motivated Violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2001; A Report on the Campaign of Political Repression Conducted by the Zimbabwean Government Under the Guise of Carrying out Land Reform. The HRF was founded in January 1998. Nine non-governmental organizations involved in the field of human rights worked together to provide legal and psychosocial assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January 1998. Since then, the Human Rights Forum expanded its objectives to assist victims of organized violence and operates legal, research and documentation units. Members of the HRF include Amnesty International Zimbabwe, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (Aug. 2001). The Zimbabwe Independent. 5 April 2002. Loughty Dube. "Soldiers Victimised for Alleged Sympathies with MDC." Attachment
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (HRF). August 2001. Politically Motivated Violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2001; A Report on the Campaign of Political Repression Conducted by the Zimbabwean Government Under the Guise of Carrying out Land Reform, pp. 1-9, 15-17, 23-25, 47-54.
Additional Sources Consulted
Draft Constitution for Zimbabwe
IRB Databases
Unsuccessful attempts to reach Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and other oral sources.
Internet sites including:
Afrol.com
AllAfrica.com
Amnesty International (AI)
Centre on Conscience and War
Financial Gazette
The Herald Online
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
The Mail and Guardian
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
Panafrican News Agency (PANA)
Zimbabwe Government Online
Zimbabwe Standard
Search engines including:
Google
