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Pre-election update from Matabeleland North and South, Midlands and Harare Manicaland Provinces
Zimbabwe Peace Project
March 14, 2008

Matabeleland North
ZPP Coordinator reported that Phillip Kawara of MDC Mutambara faction plastered posters for his faction's political office hopefuls for the coming elections on the premises of the other MDC faction offices in Hwange. Employees at MDC Tvangirai party offices were irked by this and allegedly immediately contacted ZEC to report this provocation. ZEC referred them to the police but these did not respond. After a period of no reaction from the police the staff then pulled down the posters and police allegedly moved in soon after the removal and arrested Michel Phiri of MDC Tsvangirai accusing him of contravening a section of the Electoral Laws which makes it an offence to tear down campaign materials of other contesting parties.

Meanwhile, some Hwange residents complained to the police against aspiring councillors that were procuring mealie-meal on behalf of their supporters, stating that this was tantamount to vote buying. The police came in and stated that they were going to be procuring mealie-meal on behalf of the residents. The Hwange police then allegedly requested the councillors to get full names and national Identity numbers of all residents of Hwange to ensure procurement of mealie-meal. Some residents complied and some reportedly denied offering the requested information stating that it was queer for police to take up the task of mealie-meal procurement.

Victoria Falls, Chinotimba township- members of the District Aids Action Committee (DAAC) who always carry bags with Aids information kits moving in the neighbourhood visiting those living with HIV and AIDS where allegedly stopped by members of the CIO and asked to show the contents of their bags because they were allegedly suspected of handing out information on the opposition.

Matabeleland South
Incidents of violence erupted at Mtwakazi business centre in Filabusi on Tuesday on the 11th of March after presidential aspirant Simba Makoni moved around the centre on a campaign trail interacting with people. ZPP Coordinator stated that Shepard Chuma an employee of the Rural District Council together with his friends Handsome Sibanda and two other unnamed, went to look at Simba Makoni's crusade where some of the independent presidential aspirant members where issuing campaign T'shirts. Makoni's supporters threw a T'shirt into one of Chuma friends' car and unbeknown to them this was in the eyes of Zanu PF youths that were milling around Makoni's group allegedly in a threatening manner. Chuma and friends went back to their offices and were followed by the Zanu PF supporters who made them to sit on the floor and started searching the premises threatening to kill the four men for allegedly being Zanu PF youths. The perpetrators vowed that Chuma would lose his job. Chuma and his friends were only released after one hour when Andrew Langa a sitting Zanu PF MP for Insiza dissuade the perpetrators from further intimidating the victims stating that Chuma was not MDC Mutambara. Chuma later reported the unfortunate incident to the police.

An aspiring MDC Mutambara aspirant for Insiza, Qhubani Moyo had his vehicle blocked on his way from Makoni's rally allegedly by some ruling party supporters. The ruling party supporters also allegedly harassed and intimidated Mutambara faction members that were distributing Moyo's campaign pamphlets and CDs following Makoni's rally.

Midlands
Some Zanu PF youths in ward 5, Gokwe allegedly working under an instruction from an aspiring Zanu PF, MP Dorothy Mhandami for Gokwe Centre physically attacked three MDC supporters that were allegedly working under instruction from an aspiring. It is alleged the youth where under instruction to manhandle anyone seen sticking campaign posters from other political parties.

Some residents of Mapfungautsi, high density area in Gokwe Central were allegedly coerced to sign letters wrongfully indicating them as land lords of seven people purported to be tenants at their residents with names of individuals. A ZPP monitor residing in the town also alleged that he was forced to sign the document under a threat that if he fail to do so he will be labelled MDC and would face reprisals from Zanu PF supporters based in the constituency.

Harare
Two war veterans and ten Zanu PF youths allegedly accompanied by two armed policeman heavily assaulted Mike Matarirawo an MDC activist (32) of 18 Mufukachuma rd, Zengeza 2 together with Tinashe Kazulu, Kudakwashe Muchemwa and Sheldon Patsika. The victims were assaulted at around 7.30pm while coming from an MDC meeting called by an aspiring MP for Zengeza West. The victims were way laid from on their way home and forced into a mini bus which allegedly belongs to an aspiring Zanu PF councillor. The three were physically assaulted with clinched fists and iron bars and were taken to St Marys Police Station. At the police station one of the victims, Matarirawo who was heavily bleeding was allegedly identified by one of the perpetrators a council security guard who facilitated his release from the police. The other three Kazulu, Muchemwa and Patsika were locked in cells accused of removing Zanu PF posters. The three are currently still in custody and the released Matarirawo is still yet to receive proper medical attention. The incident took place on the 13th of this month in Zengeza 3,Chitungwiza.

Still in Chitungwiza, about 300 vendors operating at Zengeza 2 flee market were ordered to leave their trading and go door to door in the neighbourhood campaigning for the ruling party. Mrs Nyamutanda, Lindi, Mada all Zanu PF activists allegedly working under the instruction of an aspiring Zanu PF candidate for Zengeza West a Nyaruwata gave the orders to the vendors. According to a vendor at the flea market, Maxwell said some time in 2007 the vendors were forced to purchase ruling party cards at $6million (Zim) per person and ironically no one ever received the cards. Maxwell said the vendors are being forced to chant Zanu Pf slogans for the party's President and aspiring Senatorial, MP and councillor failure to do so an individual is threatened with eviction from the vending site in the market.

Manicaland
Nyasha Maturura and Chasemore Sande, (Zanu PF) of Chingwe mining settlement, Mutasa South 15km from Mutare together with six men also of Zanu PF are allegedly wrecking havoc in the constituency attacking people not seen attending Zanu PF meetings. The group attacked and injured brothers Self Makute (26) and Enerst Makute (21) and another man Upenyu Chirigo forcing them to flee their homes to seek treatment and legal advice in the city centre of Mutare. The three sustained bruises all over the body and swollen limbs. Two others Joe Matonga (24) and Tichaona Chigudu were forced to run away from their homes when they got wind that the perpetrators were looking for them. The two are now staying at a safe house in Mutare fearing to go back to the mining settlement.

Information obtained from ZPP monitors in the mining settlement revealed that the group was allegedly working on the instigation of a Zanu PF aspiring MP, Shellington Dumbura who declared the constituency a Zanu PF area and everyone despite political affiliation was supposed to attend ruling party meetings. It is alleged the group compiled a list of names of those who attended Zanu PF meetings and those who did not attend were attacked, intimidated and threatened with eviction.

Meanwhile the coordinator revealed that some people from Honde valley and Chipinge transported to President Mugabe's rally at Berzeley Bridge, Bocha on the 4th of March were reportedly still at GMB grounds venue of the rally on the 6th allegedly because the hired transport that brought them left before taking them back.

The Coordinator said the province appears to be volatile with incidents of violence mainly reported in rural constituencies of the province, Makoni, Nyanga, Mutasa, Chipinge South, Mutare West and Chimanimani West are some of the hot spots.

Incidents of violence taking place in different locations of the country continue to be a cause of concern. We reiterate our everyday call LET PEACE PREVAIL prior, during and after elections in Zimbabwe.

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