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Summoned
to court for attending an MDC campaign meeting
Zimbabwe
Peace Project
October 31, 2006
It is alleged that fifteen villagers from Konyesai village in Chief
Marange’s area (Bocha) have been summoned to the Community Court
of Chief Marange for attending an MDC campaign meeting in the village
on an unspecified date. The date for the court hearing had been
set for the 18th of October 2006 but has since been postponed
to a later date.
Fifteen villagers
including Selina Mutambara and Lazarus Takabika received summons
from the Chief’s court dated 11th of October 2006. It
is alleged that the village head, Sabhuku Konyesai made a report
on villagers who attended an MDC campaign meeting held at Konyesai
village. The fifteen villagers have been asked to answer to charges
of attending a meeting in the village without the permission of
the village head. The village head claims that the villagers attended
a meeting in his village without his knowledge, "Iwe wakaita
musangano mudunhu mangu ini Sabhuku ndisingazivi, tinode kutongana",
meaning, "you held a meeting in my area without my knowledge,
now we need a hearing on this."
The village head’s
report to the chief and the subsequent summoning of villagers for
a hearing for attending a meeting of their choice is an infringement
to one’s freedom of association and assembly especially if consideration
is taken of the fact that this was done at a time when the nation
was preparing for ward/council elections. Ideally traditional leaders
are supposed to be non partisan but some have abused the traditional
powers to use them in the political arena.
The villagers
also alleged that apart from the summons, they have also been denied
to buy grain from the Grain Marketing Board, because of their political
affiliation to the MDC. It was further revealed that a number of
other traditional leaders in the area have adopted the same method
of coercing their subjects to support the ruling party.
Visit the ZPP
fact sheet
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