Zanu PF held a meeting at Nyangambiri in Murehwa on 12
October. A Zanu PF team threatened and intimidated people
Civil servants and local people in Mashonaland East are being
and among them was Zanu PF Ward chairperson Charles
forced to contribute money towards the Zanu PF 2017
Chitsote, Elias Svowa (secretary), Gift Chinake and Anna
Extraordinary
Meda. Villagers were told that Zanu PF will detect who one
contributions in Maramba Pfungwe started on 12 October with
would have voted for in the coming 2018 elections. People
every village forced to pay $10.00 while each civil servant is
were further intimidated by Meda who said, “The new BVR
to contribute $1. The contributions will be used to fund the
system introduced capture of fingerprints and images of
Zanu PF conference to be held in Harare scheduled for
prospective voters thus it would be easy for Zanu PF to track
December 2017. The newly appointed Uzumba Maramba
down opposition supporters after the elections.”
Pfungwe District Administrator Francis Hungwe with the
Conference.
It
is
alleged
that
forced
assistance of local traditional leadership Chief Chinyerere and
Four MDC-T activists from Caledonia Ward 25 Goromonzi
Chief Chinga are behind the contributions. Threats and
South were harassed and unlawfully detained on 7 October.
intimidation methods are being used to make sure that people
Langton Ncube; Brighton Shava; Dumisani Chisangowerota
comply with their demands.
and Aleck Muziwawo were harassed for conducting door to
door voter registration mobilisation. It is alleged that two Zanu
Primary and secondary school heads in Mudzi South were
PF members Chikanga and Stephen Madhongi pounced on the
called for a new curriculum work meeting held at Mudzi
four and harassed them before ordering them to leave the area.
Resource Centre on 19 October. It is alleged that the District
The activists were told that Caledonia was a no go area for
School Inspector Cree Chofamba was the presiding officer
MDC-T but they defied the order and continued with the
during the meeting giving directives. Chofamba stated that
exercise. Madhongi and Chikanga reported the issue at
teachers across Mudzi are to contribute money towards the
Caledonia police station leading to the arrest and detention of
December 2017 Zanu PF Extraordinary Congress. School
the MDC-T activists were for several hours.
heads were told to pay $2 while teachers were to pay $1 which
would be channelled towards the event. He gave an ultimatum
On 12 October opposition supporters namely MDC-T,
that by 30 October all teachers should have contributed and no
National People’s Party and ZimPF were told that they would
one would be exempted.
not receive Presidential inputs for the 2017-2018 farming
season. Village head Farai Mapanga from Ngundu village in
Murehwa West did not take down names of perceived
opposition supporters from his villages. Opposition supporters
were told that they are not entitled to benefit from government
programs hence their names were not put on the beneficiary
register. Among those who were told that they could not
benefit was Sipho Mafemba, Mairosi Chikuni* and Sebastain
Mukonwshuro* from Ngundu village.
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