The coming onto the scene of Mujuru’s ZimPF has shown Zanu-PF wasting no time in
making the new party a target alongside its usual “enemies”- the MDCs in all their
splinters.
MDC is also experiencing uncharted territory with the emergence of ZimPF party on the
political landscape. It used to be that the MDC was the dominant opposition party, but ZimPF
seems poised to take the polar opposition position.
For its part, the MDC, though to a much smaller extent than its ruling counterpart, continues
to have pockets of intra-party conflict which on occasion resulted in scuffles. A long brewing
intra-party conflict in Bulawayo saw the democratic movement recalling Senator Matson
Hlalo from Parliament. In St. Marys a long drawn out factional situation gives rise to
repeated, though minor, scuffles. This report carries one such scuffle incident.
This report also shows partisan distribution of food aid continuing. Though the instances of
this are less than in previous months, even one instance of this would be worrying as the
government is mandated by the Constitution to provide for and protect all its citizens.
While a majority of the irregularities in food distribution are meant to disadvantage
opposition members, other instances show a selfish and greed motive where some food stuffs
are diverted for personal and/or financial gain by those intended to distribute the items. This
report carries incidences to that effect.
The report also carries a special feature on the effects of mining on communities with a
particular focus on Hwange. Various rights of members of the mining are violated (refer to
the feature on page 29.)
Celebrations of the President’s 92nd birthday saw teachers and civil servants in some areas
being forced to contribute hard earned monies towards the melee. For fear of reprisals the
forced individuals comply.
Multi-dimensional conflict continues to colour the country’s political landscape. Even so,
the struggle remains for the will of the people to be heard and not be overcast by individuals
or groups hell bent on taking the nation on a tangent which brings neither political stability
nor economic prosperity.
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