officials. ZPP is in possession of the names of some of
the MDC-T supporters that failed to make the cut based
on their political preferences. ZPP spoke to Cotton
Marketing Board depot Human Resources Manager who
denied allegations of recruiting youths based on their
political affiliation. The Manager, Vuramai Chimbindi,
asserted that youths were called to Cheziya Gokwe High
School and oriented on career guidance and this is when
the parastatal announced the requirements to aspiring
employees, none of which included political affiliation.
Mberengwa MDC-T chairperson, *George Kambewu,
with an empty bottle on the head at Chingechuru on 11
June. Chovere also threatened to burn down Kambewu’s
home if he continued supporting MDC-T and wearing
the party’s regalia. Kambewu reported the threats to the
police and he says no action was taken.
A known MDC-T ward treasurer, from ward 10 Nyoka
village, Chiwundura, was barred from attending a village
development meeting held on 14 June because he does
not support Zanu PF. It is alleged that Nyoka village
headman, Bernard Nyoka had announced earlier that
those who are not Zanu PF supporters should not attend
the meeting. The meeting was for male members of the
community to discuss and map a way forward for the
repairing of a dam which was damaged by the past
season’s incessant rains.
A group of Zanu PF youths who were on 5 June
embarking on a door-to-door campaign for their party’s
candidate Brown Ndlovu allegedly invaded a village
near the Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Company located in
Chiwundura resettlement area. It is reported that the
group of about 15 youths who were chanting Zanu PF
party slogans arrived at the village and ordered
*Nicholas Kadenge to vacate his farm. Kadenge is a
known MDC-T supporter who has been warned that the
by-elections are paving way for the 2018 and by then the
area should not have any MDC-T supporters. One of the
youths, identified as Jacob, is alleged to have said Zanu
PF youths are prepared to burn villages and properties of
those not willing to join Zanu PF before the 2018
elections.
Village head Dawu Nyathi ordered *Lucky Ncube to
leave a gathering that had been called for by Councillor
Ronald Moyo for all the ward 6 villagers. The meeting
was held at Vungu ward 6 at Maboleni Business Centre
on 14 June when Nyathi claimed that Ncube had refused
to surrender his MDC-T regalia despite orders to do so.
Nyathi added that he wanted to take the regalia to the
Zanu PF ward chair as he does not tolerate opposition
supporters in his village. He also alleges Ncube is
disrespectful because he continues to attend MDC-T
meetings against Nyathi’s orders. Ncube is living in fear
after being publicly labelled a sell-out.
On 8 June, several Zanu PF youths were deployed in a
number of wards in Chiwundura. The deployment took
place ahead of MDC-T rally slated for 10 June at Mkoba
Stadium. MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai
addressed the rally. Some of the ruling party youths
threatened villagers not to attend the MDC-T rally.
28 Zanu PF youths defaced NCA posters in Senga high
density suburb on 14 June. As part of their campaign on
behalf of Takudzwa Guzete vying for MP, NCA youths
were sticking posters around Senga high density suburb
when Zanu PF youths led by Michael ordered the NCA
youths to leave Senga. The frightened youths abandoned
their duty to stick posters and left when the Zanu PF
youths became aggressive. Police officers that were in
the vicinity did not stop the Zanu PF youths despite the
fact that defacing posters is unlawful and can attract
sanctions details in section 152 of the Electoral Act.
Guzete said that there are MDC-T youths that have also
been accused of defacing NCA posters and a police
report will be made once one of them is identified.
An MDC-T Midlands provincial security official, *Joel
Kanengoni, was allegedly assaulted by six unidentified
youths suspected to belong to Zanu PF on 10 June at
Mkoba 14. This happened after the MDC-T rally that
was addressed by MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai
at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on 10 June. The party
youths demanded a security report that covered the
Gweru MDC-T rally and when Kanengoni referred them
to security officials responsible for the rally, he was
attacked with sjamboks and fists and then later fled the
scene of the incident. It remains unclear whether the
incident was reported to the police or not.
Zanu PF youths, led by Emanuel Kure, allegedly
disrupted an MDC-T meeting held at *Bernard Nyoni’s
Everson Chovere, a Zanu PF supporter, assaulted
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