Provincial Summaries
Bulawayo
Incidents reported rose significantly in September and these included both intra- and inter-party
disputes involving mainly Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).
Infighting within the MDC-T party continued unabated between factions allegedly led by
Senator Matson Hlalo, on the one hand; and Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Gift Banda, who is
also the party’s provincial chairperson, and alleged to be leading the other. It is believed that
the two are fighting for the control of the province.
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On 18 September 2015, intra-party fighting within Zanu PF resulted in one middle
aged man Nkosi Ndiweni (not his real name) being accused of belonging to People
First, a party which is yet to be launched and said to be led by former vice president
Joice Mujuru. Ndiweni was allegedly slapped in the face by a youth identified as Mxolisi.
This was during a Zanu PF march along Khami Road in a parade for the late Sikhanyiso
Ndlovu, a Zanu PF cadre and national hero who died in September. Mxolisi himself
was later beaten up by a group of youths sympathizing with his victim.
In an act violating the right to education, hundreds of school children from poor families
whose school fees are paid by the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) were,
on 22 September 2015, turned away from four primary schools for non-payment of
tuition. These schools are Luveve Primary, Mafakela Primary, Mbizo Primary and
Matshayiskhova Primary. The respective school heads said government has not been
paying the fees. The disadvantaged children are mostly orphans living with their
grandparents, while some are from child-headed households. BEAM has in the past
few years not been forthcoming as a source of relief for those children needing it. The
management of the facility has been fraught with bias and corruption as in some
instances less deserving pupils have accessed assistance from the facility ahead of
truly disadvantaged children due to uncanny connections. That notwithstanding, the
fact that dwindling government coffers can no longer be harnessed towards the
sustenance of the facility has grossly affected the programme.
Two MDC-T officials, MacDonald Shunga and Zanda Mpakhati are alleged to have
started a constituency cleanup campaign in Bulawayo, where residents are employed
to clean the area. Zanu PF ward chairperson, Siphathisiwe Dube, challenged the two
over what she said was discrimination against her party supporters in the recruitment of
cleaners. She said the exercise should benefit all residents regardless of party affiliation
as she accused the two of vote buying. While the two officials could not be reached for
comment, spokesperson for MDC-T for Bulawayo Province, Mandla Sibanda, told
the ZPP that, Shunga who is a councillor and was conducting the clean-up in that
capacity, on seeing that this could be a politically controversial issue, has since
decided to ensure all parties are represented amongst the cleaners.
On 25 September 2015, on 10th Avenue and Parirenyatwa Street near Milton Primary
School an elderly man of 75 years old who is also an MDC-T activist was verbally
insulted and threatened with unspecified action by Zanu PF activist, 35 year old
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