A TOTAL of 60 human rights violations linked to political violence were recorded between mid-September and October this year.
The statistics were released by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum on Friday.
The human rights violations include arbitrary arrests, malicious damage to property, arson, threats, harassment ,intimidation as well as assault and torture.
Information gathered shows that both Zanu PF and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members were singled out as perpetrators of the violence.
Ruling party members were identified as the perpetrators for the majority of the cases (52).
The majority of cases were recorded in Matobo, Matabeleland South a fortnight ago ahead of local government by-elections.
Thirty-two people including an opposition legislator were left injured.
Violent clashes erupted in September in Mbare between the two political parties' youth as they battled to control vending spaces in the area.
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"The escalation in incidents of politically motivated human rights violations in Mbare, Matobo and Insiza districts points to a deepening political crisis in the country as the nation trudges closer to the 2023 general elections," the Forum said in a statement.
"The quarterly Political and Human Rights Violations Report compiled by the Forum covering the period January to September 32022 has recorded a total of 1 857 violations.
“This, together with the total number of violations recorded in Matobo alone, brings the total to 1 901.
“This startling figure is already more than half of the politically motivated violations recorded from January to December 2021.
“It is apparent that the country's deepening polarisation and political crisis need urgent intervention to ensure that Zimbabwe experiences a free, fair, and peaceful election in 2023."
Both Zanu PF leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa and CCC leader Nelson Chamisa have escalated their call for violent free elections.
