Highlights
On 16 June, an MDC-T party activist Nancy Rugwe* of Kufakwatenzi village Buhera
South was assaulted by Joseph Chinotimba (MP) - Buhera South at a food distribution
point. It is reported that the villagers including Rugwe had been engaged in a food for
work program at Kufakwatenzi Primary school. On the day in question, the villagers
were supposed to receive their share of food as is the norm after working on the
project for the prescribed number of days required to access the aid. Chinotimba (MP)
was reportedly there supervising the process. When the MP (Chinotimba) saw the
victim, it is alleged that he stood up and said all those in MDC-T and ZimPF should
leave the place as a matter of urgency as there was no food for them. The victim
refused to leave on the strength that she believed that it was within her rights to claim
the food for which she had offered labour in the food for work program. Chinotimba
(MP) went straight to the woman and assaulted her using a big stick. It was only at
this juncture that the woman and all those that support the opposition and who had
participated in the food for work program dispersed without their deserved share of a
50 kg bag of maize. Several people including Irvine Chamba* witnessed the incident.
The Village Development Committee (VIDCO) chairperson Nicholas Mutara called
for a meeting on 25 June, at Jaggers Business Centre Buhera West, where all the
surrounding villages were expected to meet. At the meeting, the chairperson Mutara
announced that food aid that had previously been availed by the department of Social
Welfare was no longer coming. He is reported to have implied that all the food that
was available was coming from (Kumusoro) meaning higher offices and that this food
is not meant for opposition party members. He declared that from that day onwards,
all the food that would be received in the VIDCO was meant for Zanu PF members
only unless one repents and joins Zanu PF.
The whole idea could be a deliberate move mooted by Zanu PF to entice and/or
coerce people to desert political parties of their choice and join Zanu PF more so at a
time such as this when there are growing food shortages in the constituency. It must
also be noted that Buhera is perennially drought stricken and that the people there
need food assistance.
Buhera West is the home of opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The antics by
Zanu PF were meant to punish opposition party members but at the same time
violating their right to food. Several MDC-T party supporters including Obvious
Chari and Mavis Kalote* were there when the reported declaration was made.
On 30 June, Reuben Pinjisi* of MDC-T and residing in Dangamvura Mutare was
verbally harassed by Keresiya Bandure (Zanu PF) after he refused the offer of a
residential stand. The stands are being given to people as a way to recruit more
members for the party. The victim was reportedly called a “non repentant traitor”.
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