#PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
MASVINGO
BULAWAYO
MACHETE GANGS
KILL CCC ACTIVIST
MAT
NORTH
STATE SECURITY
AGENTS UNLEASHED
In Masvingo, the ruling Zanu PF party was resorting to
using traditional leaders to coerce people to vote for
Zanu PF. Zanu PF Vice President Kembo Mohadi held
nationwide meetings with traditional leaders and in
Masvingo, he told them to be part of the Zanu PF
structures. In Zaka Central, ward 8, on 19 June 2022,
Mohadi, who is no longer a government official,
convened a meeting with village heads, headmen, chiefs,
government workers as well as Zanu PF supporters.
Mohadi is alleged to have told the gathered traditional
leaders that they were not supposed to allow anyone
under their jurisdiction to support CCC in the 2023
elections. He then said that, if they did not do that, they
risked their areas experiencing what happened in 2008.
Political tensions continue to rise in the province. As the month
began political intolerance among parties continued to be
recorded. This has been recorded during door-to-door
campaigns and through social events. In one of the cases
recorded in Nkulumane suburb, Fanuel Ndlovu of Mthwakazi
Liberation Party(MLP) assaulted a citizen after the latter
professed that the only deal in town is Nelson Chamisa and
other opposition parties are a mere progeny of Zanu-PF. This
comes at a time when Mnangagwa has castigated MLP members
as ‘nonsensical beings’ in the just ended political rally in Gweru.
In Lobengula, a machete gang killed CCC member Langelihle
Zonda Dube. It is said that the machete gang stormed his house
and demanded money, gold and other accessories. The gang
allegedly murdered him and accused him of being a CCC
member who deserved to lose his life.
In Binga North, at ward 9 in Siansundu it was reported that a
Zanu PF activist identified as Lumumo Munkuli warned
opposition members that they risk being beaten if found
carrying out political activities. Munkuli said that he is
prepared to deal with members of the new party led by
Nelson Chamisa. He further warned that community
members should monitor any individual found wearing
yellow regalia so as to send their name to him for disciplinary
action.
The state has also unleashed its machinery towards members
of the opposition. It was reported that three unidentified
individuals suspected to be state security agents intimidated
a CCC supporter John Kasirori*. It is said that the trio came
into contact with Kasirori and warned him to remove his
party t-shirt or risk being beaten and arrested. It has become
routine at Lupane Centre for state agents to go around
intimidating those who wear CCC regalia.
10