Provincial Summaries
Bulawayo
Several cases of discrimination were reported in the province. One peculiar incident was
reported in Lobengula where Zanu PF officials reportedly denied their own members access
to rice and instead gave the rice to non-members they were recruiting. This left their
supporters complaining that their own party was now feeding MDC T supporters at their
expense.
Zanu PF officials had also started registering their youths for the allocation of land to be done
by Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere. Food relief distribution in urban areas
also began in some constituencies with some residents complaining that the scheme was
politicized. Intra-party conflict within Zanu PF was reported in Luveve where a group of war
veterans accused Minister Eunice Sandi Moyo of working with former Vice President Joice
Mujuru’s ZimPF.
Police denied MDC T their right to demonstrate which was set for 28 May but this was later
overturned by the High Court which granted permission in line with the constitution.
Highlights:
On 21 May in Lobengula, Zanu PF officials led by District Secretary Felistas
Taruvinga compiled a list of 200 party youths to be given land on the outskirts of
Bulawayo by Minister Kasukuwere. She emphasised that the land was for Zanu PF
youths only and no opposition members would get land. She ordered the youths to
start campaigning now ahead of the 2018 elections or else Morgan Tsvangirai would
take over the country and hand it to whites.
In Ward 14, Lobengula, Zanu PF officials held a meeting on 5 May at the residence of
Henriette Dube the chairperson where they distributed 2 cups of rice to each of the
non-members urging them to join Zanu PF. This caused disgruntlement among their
own members who complained that their party was now feeding MDC-T members
and leaving them out.
In ward 15 of Luveve war veteranss met on 19 May and denounced Minister Sandi
Moyo accusing her of being the manager of Mujuru’s campaigns. They accused her of
receiving money and cars from Mujuru.
In ward three, Bulawayo East on May 5 scores of vendors who had been evicted from
their bays on the premise that the bays would be renovated and re-allocated
complained that council was now discriminating against them. One of the vendors
(name supplied), confronted Mayor Martin Moyo’s representatives saying new faces
were allocated bays ahead of them. They alleged corruption and bribery was used.
The Mayor himself could not meet the vendors in person and they complained of
being snubbed.
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