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Dear Friends

Today, 13 February 2009, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum released the December 2008 Monthly Political Violence Report (MPVR) which can be accessed on the Forum's website via the following link http://www.hrforumzim.com/frames/inside_frame_monthly.htm

This report contains an analysis of politically motivated violence that occurred from January to December 2008 as well as a comparative analysis of the violence that occurred in 2007 and 2008. The report comes against a background of high optimism amongst many sectors of Zimbabwean society following the first steps in the formation of an inclusive government.

From the beginning to the end of 2008, Zimbabwe’s political terrain was defined by the violent preparations and anticipation for the watershed 29 March Harmonized Elections and its bloody aftermath which culminated in the even bloodier 27 June Run-off election. Events after the Run-off election were marked by high tension and more politically and state sponsored violence up to the end of year as this report will chronicle. The signing of the Global Political Agreement on 15 September 2008, however, brought hope for a new political dispensation and an end to repression of civic activity. This optimisn soon waned following the lengthly deliberations and failure to agree on the details of the power-sharing arrangement by ZANU PF and the two MDC formations. Violence continued, and targetting of MDC officials and civil society activists for abduction and arrest continued, contrary to the letter and spirit of the Global power sharing Agreement.

It is against this background that the Human Rights Forum calls upon the inclusive government to honour their commitment to the people of Zimbabwe and to take steps to ensure an end to state sponsored human rights violations in Zimbabwe. The Human Rights Forum also calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to the harassment and intimidation of supporters of all political parties.

Please note that this report does not capture all incidences of politically – motivated violence which were not incorporated into the MPVRs at the time of their publication. The Human Rights Forum is still receiving reports of violations that occurred past 29 March Harmonized elections and which therefore do not appear in the monthly reports.