JULY 2017
was then blocked by ZanuPF youths wearing party
regalia accusing Mazorodze of allowing campaigns and
using his resources to fund National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA) campaigns. NCA National Youth
Chairperson, Terrance Mawoneke confirmed the
incident and added that the party was aware that MDC-T
and ZanuPF supporters were intimidating NCA
members. He said that his party was reluctant to report
to the police as they are aware that the system is tainted
and biased towards ZanuPF. Mawoneke said NCA had
successfully engaged MDC-T and called upon the party
supporters to stop harassing those supporting NCA.
their campaign meeting at Gumbure Primary School in
ward 11 but the school authorities denied the party
leadership and its supporters access to the school
grounds demanding clearance from the police if they
wanted to go ahead with their plans. School authorities
led by the School Development Association chairperson,
Moses Lunga, insisted that they were not going to allow
NCA Chiwundura leadership led by its chairperson
Fungai Kashiri to use the school grounds without police
clearance. After two hours of negotiations the NCA
meeting was eventually called off.
In Gokwe Gumunyu at Mvumvurudze primary school it
was reported that on 10 July the ZanuPF Gokwe district
chairperson, Timothy Pamire, forced teachers to
contribute towards Heroes Day commemorations. He
told teachers that they were supposed to contribute
nothing less than 50 cents. It is alleged that Pamire
further said that this exercise was going to run from 10
July to 4 August and teachers who refuse to comply
were going to have their names noted. Business people
at Gumunyu business centre have also been told to
contribute towards the commemorations.
On 9 July, it was reported that Chiwundura ward 10
villagers were threatened with eviction from their homes
if they voted for the opposition parties in the 15 July byelection. The meeting where this was uttered was called
by the ZanuPF ward 10 chairperson Mr Albert
Chidhakwa and all village heads in attendance. It is
alleged that Chidhakwa told the village heads that they
should warn everyone in their village that ZanuPF would
evict anyone suspected or known to vote for the
opposition. The ward chairperson is alleged to have
made these direct threats at Muchakata Business Centre.
On this day it was also reported that the NCA president,
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, visited Gambiza
Business Centre where he addressed people to drum up
support for the NCA by-election candidate, Takudzwa
Guzete. Professor Madhuku castigated the alleged
intimidation tactics used by ZanuPF youths. Due to fear
of victimisation by ZanuPF supporters, villagers also
refused to attend to NCA members who resorted to doorto-door campaigns.
People in Chiwundura were concerned about the
increased movement of unmarked vehicles. It is alleged
that the vehicles have been seen patrolling most
shopping centres and main roads. Owners of these
vehicles were not seen talking to any villagers but
isolated themselves. As a result of the presence of these
mysterious cars, opposition parties were afraid to hold
their campaign meetings.
On 11 July, ZanuPF supporters went around
Chiwundura telling every villager to attend the 12 July
star rally in their numbers. The ruling party youths
intimidated people that had no intention of attending the
rally. It is alleged that MDC-T youths resolved that they
will organize themselves and retaliate to ZanuPF attacks
if they are faced with any in the remaining five rallies.
The rally on July 12 was jointly addressed by vice
president Emmerson Mnangagwa political commissar
Saviour Kasukuwere and the ZanuPF candidate in the by
election Brown Ndlovu.
ZanuPF held a campaign rally at Kaguvi Youth Centre
in Chiwundura on 9 July. It was reported that
Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe legislator, Auxillia Mnangagwa,
and former Minister and current ZanuPF Midlands
deputy secretary for administration, July Moyo, attended
the rally. Allegedly the guest of honour, MP
Mnangagwa, told the gathering that going into the byelection villagers must not forget that ZanuPF is the only
party that has maintained peace in the country since
1980. It was said that schools and hospitals were built by
ZanuPF and to continue doing so the party must win the
by-election.
It was reported that at Mateza village in Chiwundura,
Masvori High in ward 10 on 11 July, three youths
covering their faces with masks and wearing MDC-T T-
On 10 July, it was reported that NCA wanted to hold
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