Various communities recorded similar
patterns
of
intimidation
and
harassment during SDC processes. In
some of the cases, MDC supporters
were blocked from getting positions
in the SDCs and were accused of being
political sellouts. This points to the
deep levels of polarisation that exists
in communities, where people can
politicise every aspect of community
life. This divides communities and
breeds the seed of generational hatred resulting negatively on the development agenda schools thus dividing
communities. In some communities villagers were still forced to contribute towards Independence Day
commemorations despite these celebrations having been postponed. As in a case in Mt Darwin East, Mafundirwa
village, Zanu PF activist Artwell Vhirimhu called for a meeting of
traditional leaders on 19 March 2020. He tasked them to collect
ZWL 10.00 per household towards the Independence Day
On 25 March nurses and hospital staff at
commemorations. Some villagers approached Vhirimhu citing
Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital deserted the
economic hardships he turned a deaf ear to their complaint and
facility after two suspected cases of COVID
instead he threatened unspecified action to those who would
-19 were reported at the institution.
fail to contribute. The economy is hitting hard on families and
Patients were left unattended as health
expecting them to part with the little they have is
workers fled. It was reported that staff
inconsiderate.
members and nurses left all patients
On 23 March, the management at Kefalos Company in Seke Ward 10
treated their employees’ families in an inhuman and degrading
manner. It was reported that employees who reside in the company
compound with children other than their own were instructed to
remove them from the compound immediately. This left many
children vulnerable and without any guardians considering that
government has no social safety nets for children. The eviction was
also against the local culture and social structure, which fosters an
extended family system.
In a report received from GlenView 1 on
29 March 2020, Zanu PF youth political
commissar Archford Mavhima went
around Glenview 1 and 2 areas recording
names of residents in ward 32 and
informing them that Zanu PF had
purchased mealie meal to cater for its
supporters only during the 21 days
Lockdown period. A crisis knows no
political party affiliation and communities
must instead come together to win the
fight against a crisis like COVID19.
unattended as they declined to provide
services without the personal protection
equipment necessary.
The politics of
patronage
is
endemic and opposition supporters have long been side lined
from accessing aid and other resources. Communities continue
to face the effects of the El Nino induced drought, and are
dependent on food and other aid from the government, so there
is need for equitable distribution of aid as everyone is
vulnerable. The reasonable expectation was, after the visit of
the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food in
November 2019 such food violation cases would stop.
Unfortunately ZPP continues to record cases where Zanu PF
supporters are given first preference in aid distribution. The
supporters are also given preference in accessing resources such as land.
8