running down the farm. Thereafter it is alleged he was
physically assaulted by the soldiers using sticks and clubs.
After the alleged physical assault it was then said he was
forced to exhume human manure from a disused blair toilet on
the farm compound. He is said to have suffered some injuries
which forced him to seek medical attention at Mutambara
Hospital.
had recently got a replacement of a lost national identification
card was turned away by one ZEC official at Mashonjowa
Primary School. It was reported that after a heated argument
with the head at the station Chibomba was finally told that he
(the ZEC) official did not take information and instructions
from the media. He is also alleged to have said he was waiting
for official communication from his superiors.
Vendors in Mutare Central are alleged to have been forcefully
driven out of the CBD on 6 December, by a combined team of
Municipal Police, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Army. It
was reported that on the date the united force of the three
descended on the streets and high density suburbs of Mutare
forcefully driving vendors out of their vending sites. This
move is also alleged to have been undertaken in the wake of
few and shortage of designated vending sites in the area and
the vendors are also alleged to have been told to go to their
rural homes if they were not formally employed.
In Buhera Central, ward 20 at Baravara shopping centre, a
case of political intimidation at a farming inputs distribution
gathering was recorded on 13 December. It is alleged that
while the distribution was going smoothly, Felix Nangatidza
who is ward 20 councillor rose and started encouraging
villagers to register to vote. Nangatidza is alleged to have
gone on to tell the gathering that the villagers were not
supposed to forget the 2008 political violence, hence as they
register and vote they should do it wisely if they did not want
a repeat of 2008. He is also alleged to have said that villagers
must not be carried away by the ascendency of President
Mnangagwa as he was also part of the 2008 system so nothing
has changed in reference to the Zanu PF modus operandi. He
is also reported to have said not registering to vote was a
serious crime.
Village head Mutaurwa, of Buhera North ward 10, is alleged
to have called villagers to a Zanu PF meeting on 6 December.
It is reported the villagers were asked to bring voter
registration slips to the meeting. Mutaurwa is alleged to have
said that Zanu PF district members are the ones who wanted
the serial numbers on the voter registration slips and had sent
Mateu Machokoto who happened to be at the meeting to
collect the serial numbers.
On 28 December it is reported that a political meeting was
held at Berzeley Bridge, in Mutare South. It is alleged that the
meeting left most in fear as a result of the threats which were
uttered at the meeting for people to vote for Zanu PF in the
2018 polls or face consequences. Gift Makoni* of Nyachityu
village ward 10 was one of the victims. Berzeley Bridge is in
Mutare South under Chief Marange who also was allegedly
not recognized by the guest speaker and Mutare West
legislator Christopher Mushohwe. The villagers at the meeting
were allegedly threatened and told that Mutare West was
never going to hold any Zanu PF primary elections for the
2018 House of Assembly candidate as Mushohwe was not
supposed to be contested. Makoni the victim was present at
the meeting on behalf of his brother who is Nyachityu head.
The targeted audience of the meeting were the Zanu PF
executive, headmen, kraal heads, churches and Chief Marange
who were told to list names of opposition supporters.
On 9 December in Makoni Central it is reported that soldiers
from 3.2 infantry battalion allegedly assaulted people at
Vengere bottle store. It is said that some of the victims were
watching soccer and some drinking beer at this bottle store
when the military invaded the bottle store. Five people
allegedly lost cell phones as they fled and Lenon Chigubhu*is
reported to have broken his leg in the process.
In Chimanimani East, ward 15 at Chimanimani Country Club
on 10 December, it is reported that two separate groups of
soldiers assaulted Chris Chisvo* and Bruce Hwedza* around
9pm when they were allegedly caught in a compromising
position in the nearby Golf Course. However, both Chisvo and
Hwedza are said to have failed to seek treatment in fear of the
soldiers who were also stationed at the adjacent Police Station.
In Chimanimani West at Mashonjwa Primary, on 12
December, it is reported that contrary to what the November
High Court ruling on so called aliens they were still being
denied the right to register as voters. Simon Chibomba* who
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