A member of Zimbabwe’s opposition party, Coalition of Citizens for Change (CCC), was killed today while on his way to a rally in Harare.
The attack was reportedly carried out by alleged thugs of the ruling party, ZANU-PF, who assaulted and stoned members peacefully attending an electoral event.
The victim, identified as Tinashe Chitsunge, was stoned to death. Police confirmed the public violence incident and death resulting from the clashes.
Zimbabwe is set to hold elections on August 23, and the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, will seek re-election.
Accusations of repression and human rights abuses by organizations like Amnesty International have preceded the election announcement.
Before the murder, Human Rights Watch (HRW) had expressed concerns about Zimbabwe’s lack of measures to ensure free and fair elections in the forthcoming general elections scheduled for August 23.
The organization’s report highlights the authorities’ failure to respect basic freedoms necessary for credible and just elections, citing the adoption of repressive laws, partiality of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), and partisan behavior by the country’s police.
According to HRW, opposition parties face intimidation, violence, prolonged detentions, and restricted access to voter lists.