Food aid has been used as a tool for coercion in communities. Credit: BBC/EPA
Through the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill
(PVO Bill), government seeks to, among other things, stifle the
work of civil society organisations which have so far done a
great job holding authorities to account and supplementing
government efforts through various community projects.
As Zanu PF went into full election mode, its officials forced
villagers to contribute to Independence Day celebrations or risk
being ‘blacklisted as opposition supporters.’
At Dotito Township, at a meeting co-hosted by Zanu PF officials
Edwin Sigudu and Mike Murasira Sigudu ordered village heads
to collect money from villagers for the Independence Day
celebrations.
“Make sure you write down the names of those who do not give
you money so that we know our sell-outs.”
In Buhera West the legislator, Soul Dzuma of Zanu PF, while
addressing a rally, said those in his constituency who did not
attend Zanu PF meetings were going to be removed from the list
of beneficiaries of government aid from the Department of
Social Welfare (DSW).
ZPP spoke to an official from the DSW who confirmed the
widespread manipulation of the aid processes.
The DSW has the mandate to work with local leadership to lead
aid processes, but Zanu PF continually uses its influence in
government to hijack the processes and use aid as a tool to
reward their supporters and punish opposition political party
supporters.
As has become an unfortunate formula, the Zimbabwe Republic
Police was among the major perpetrators, being found wanting
151 times followed by machete gangs who were responsible for
26 incidents.
“
WE WILL
BEAT TO
DEATH
ANYONE
WE SEE
WEARING
YELLOW
Councillor
Masimba
Gumira
(Zanu PF)
”
4