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  • New Constitution-making process - Index of articles


  • Political environment in Zimbabwe update - Week ending 02 November 2012
    Heal Zimbabwe Trust
    November 02, 2012

    Province and District The General Environment General Political Atmosphere
    Masvingo
    Zaka Central
    Tense

    There are reports of intimidation and harassment in Zaka Central. It is alleged that Mr Nelson Bvudzijena of Mashingaidze village whose house was petrol bombed last month by alleged ZANU PF activists has been receiving frequent visits at the hospital from 3 police assistant commissioners who are accusing him of telling people that his house was petrol bombed by ZANU PF supporters. The victim is now living in fear of being assassinated and is pleading to be transferred from his current hospital to a suffer place. These threats come after repeated death threats from unknown people who have been calling him in hospital threatening him with death the moment he is discharged from hospital.

    Manicaland
    Buhera
    Calm There are no reported cases of political violence in the area. Political activities are taking place with no reported cases of violence or disruptions.
    Masvingo
    Gutu

    Calm

    The situation in Gutu is calm; no cases of political violence have been reported.

    Mashonaland East
    Hwedza


    Moderate There are reported cases of unfair distribution of food aid in Hwedza. It is alleged that Chief Kuwandika of Dendenyore village in ward 7 and some District Chairpersons all being ZANU PF supporters have forcefully taken over the distribution of food aid from Councillor Choto who was initially responsible for the distribution. It is reported that the team in question confisticated a book with names of beneficiaries from the councillor and wrote new names of ZANU PF supporters only. They have forcefully taken over the distribution of the grain which they are distributing on partisan basis. The councillor reported the case to the police but no action has been taken by the police to address the problem.
    Mashonaland East
    Mutoko
    Calm No cases of political violence have been recorded in Mutoko but villagers are still anxious on when the constitutional referendum process will be held.
    Mashonaland Central
    Muzarabani
    Tense There are reports of intimidation and harassment in ward 2 Maungaunga village in Muzarabani. It is reported that on the 18th of October, Mr Chamunorwa Jambwa an MDC activist was harassed and manhandled by ZANU PF activists Headman E Dzonya, John Deere, ward chairperson-Taurai Macherengi and headman Muswera for allowing his wife to plan and coordinate a scheduled MDC voter education training program in the area. The accused ZANU PF supporters have vowed to continue tormenting the Jambwa family and are making threats that whoever attends the training workshop will be killed. The death threats have since been reported to the police who promised to look into the issue.
    Midlands
    Gokwe
    Tense The situation is tense in Gokwe Nembudziya after soldiers were dispatched in the area four weeks ago. The soldiers are moving around the district harassing and threatening people forcing them to support the ZANU PF position in the upcoming referendum. Some of the soldiers are said to be staying at a Guest house near Kambasha Gokwe Centre and another group is stationed at Manoti business centre in Gokwe Kana. It is reported that some members of the army are moving around dressed in their camouflage uniform but some are in civil. The soldiers are said to be patrolling villages in Sesame, Sengwa, Kana, Mapfungautsi and Gokwe Central. It is alleged that the soldiers are targeting social public gatherings like food aid distribution platforms where they turn the event into a political rally. The reports state that the soldiers bulldoze the social events and start singing revolutionary songs where they expect everyone to join in, after singing, the soldiers take turns to denounce the COPAC constitutional draft. The soldiers are criticizing the draft highlighting to the villagers that they should vote NO in the referendum claiming that the draft promotes homosexuality and undermines the office of the president and roles of chiefs hence it should not be allowed to pass. The soldiers clashed with MDC youths in Sasame constituency on the 27th of October an incident that has since been reported to JOMIC but no action has been taken yet. The alleged soldiers are said to be moving around together with a team of soldiers code named "operation Maguta' who have been in Gokwe since the 2008 elections.

    It is further reported that key MDC officials in Nembudziya have been receiving death threats from unknown callers. On 21 October, the MDC district Vice Chairperson Mr McDonald Garikai received a death threat in form of an anonymous phone call. The caller even threatened to petrol bomb the victim's house during the night if he does not join ZANU PF party.

    On the same day, Mr Mupandaguta an MDC activist also received an anonymous call threatening him with death if he continues to support MDC party.

    On 25 October, Mr Nhamo Wilson who is an MDC shadow councillor for ward 2 Musadzi village had his field forcefully taken by the sitting councillor Mai Mugabe who is a ZANU PF activist. Mai Mugabe took over the land stating that all MDC supporters in Gokwe should have their land confisticated until they denounce their party affiliation.

    There are also reports of intimidation in Ward 12 Nembudziya. People in the area are being forced to attend ZANU PF meetings three times a week. Everyone in the ward was forced to register their names as ZANU Pf supporters. They were told that the names would automatically be put in the ZANU PF register. The perpetrators further highlighted that those who refused will face the same persecution that Israelites in the bible faced in the hands of Egyptians. The ZANU PF supporters went further to threaten that they will mark the doors of those who registered their names so that when they do their "rounds' they will know which house to attack and which to leave. They further threatened that this time they will not use youth to beat up people but will use members of the army to "discipline" those who fail to comply.
    Chitungwiza Tense On Monday the 29th of October, seven Zengeza West district MDC N activists were attacked by ZANU PF supporters for conducting a door to door campaign in the area. The seven officials are Terrence Majakwara, Alex Mashuro, Masiye Kambewa, Sidney Ndoro, Zvomuya Masiya, Tichaona Masamha and Innocent Gwara. The attack came when they were in the middle of carrying out a door to door campaign in Zengeza. The ZANU PF supporters attacked the seven using knobkerries, catapults and stones accusing them of forcing people to support their political party. The ZANU PF activists also unleashed dogs on the MDC activists and confisticated 39 recruitment forms and 43 party cards. A police report was made at Makoni police station and the police promised to look into the incident. The seven MDC supporters are currently receiving medical attention for the wounds sustained during the attack.

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