Executive Summary
At any other time political intolerance could go unnoticed or would not be prominent as it is
this August. This month MDC-T and ZimPF are trying hard to grow their membership base
especially in rural areas as they prepare for the 2018 general elections. Ironically, it is during
this month that most rural communities are looking forward to food aid as most granaries are
dry. In Zimbabwe failure to accet other political players is becoming a sad culture. Those that
are in Zanu PF believe they deserve to use state resources and determine beneficiaries.
The shocking levels of intolerance have gone beyond Zanu PF and opposition but between
MDC-T and ZimPF as well. On 20 August Mashonaland East MDC-T supporters went rogue
and started their own campaign “tinodawo mastands” (we also want residential stands). The
right to land has lost it’s universality as opposition political parties are sidelined in land
distribution and redistribution. MDC-T youths have also become intolerant that they believe
they are more deserving of rights more than other political party supporters.
In Mt Darwin North, people that are known to support ZimPF are called out by ZanuPF
leadership, humilated and told not to attend public gatherings. Some are forced to denounce
their political parties. These are signs that 2018 elections preparations are in full gear. There
are no attempts to foster development regardless of political affiliation. In Mutoko North at
Masisi Primary School the school development committee delved in identifiying school cooks
and the political parties they belong to, expelling one cook on grounds that he does not
support Zanu PF. A development meeting was disrupted in Mutoko South when the Member
of Parliament, David Chapfika, said the agenda of the meeting should have included an
aspect discouraging people from taking part in protests against the ruling government.
The intolerance not only breeds physical violence between members of different political
parties but the rot continues to spread to food distribution. On 12 August in Makoni North a
social worker from Chingono Village was victimised after refusing to side line MDC-T
supporters during food distribution. Opposition activists live in communities where their rights
to shelter and food are violated. It is disconcerting to note that as granaries are dry more and
more citizens are being denied food aid that is distributed by the Department of Social
Welfare.
It is sad to note that citizens’ freedom to demonstrate and petition is still at risk as police
continue to brutalise those who exercise this freedom. Brutality linked to street protests have
also followed known opposition and citizen movement activists to their homes raising red
flags around risks of abduction andor kidnapping. Journalists have become victims of
brutality in the conduct of their duties and some have languished in prison for several weeks.
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