with the members who were disrupting the meeting. Following this directive more than 30 members
of Zanu PF were assaulted by the youths using logs, stones and fists resulting in two members of
Zanu PF being hospitalised at Chipinge hospital. Police came in to restore sanity later in the
afternoon. No arrests were made.
In ward 7 Headlands, at Pfumoiguru Primary School, Oswell Chigaka chairperson for the ward was
arrested by the police for writing down names of people before and after voting. In ward 12 people
were also writing names and a vehicle with reg. number ADE-9388 belonging to Zanu PF was moving
around giving rice to people before voting. This took place at Chironga Primary both the police and
the presiding officer were notified.
Midlands
Midlands is the epicentre of intra and inter party conflict. The MDC-T has been facing a torrid time in
reorganizing party structures mostly in Midlands North. The restructuring has been meeting stiff
resistance from sitting members and this has resulted in the party failing to put in place provincial
party structures. Midlands is the only province where the party has failed to elect a provincial party
structure due to infighting. The creation of two party provinces within one administrative province
was meant to deal with the factions but this has not solved matters for the better.
There was chaos and verbal assault at an MDC-T meeting on 26 June 2015 at Mutoro Business
Centre Gokwe Chireya. The provincial team headed by a Ms Nyathi had descended on the area to try
to reorganise and restructure the lower level organs of the party when Tendai Svosve the District
Chairperson threatened to physically assault the visitors should they go ahead with their plans. The
pandemonium led to the cancellation of the meeting.
Masvingo
The situation in Masvingo was generally calm
and the highlight of the province was the
contentious issue of former Provincial Minister
Bhasikiti who was challenging his dismissal from
Zanu PF.
A well known MDC-T activist was murdered in
cold blood in the Negari area of Ward 2 Mwenezi
East Constituency in Masvingo province. The 70
year old activist is believed to have been
murdered by unknown assailants on the 19th of
June but his body was only found on the 21st of
June inside his hut by his son. His body was
brutalized and his hands and legs had deep cuts.
One of the huts on his homestead was burnt on
the same night. The murder is suspected to be
politically motivated as investigations are
proceeding. The victim was an outspoken activist
and held a senior position for the MDC-T in
Mwenezi District and he contested a previous
election as a Councillor. It is reported by close Figure 2: The burnt hut
7