On 15 June in Bikita East, it was reported that heads of
all schools in the constituency were given letters by the
acting District Inspector for Bikita, Chiwoneso Maraza,
instructing all teachers to contribute towards the
upcoming Heroes Day commemorations. According to
the circular, ordinary teachers will pay $1 and school
heads were expected to pay double. The circular further
states that all those intending on going against the
request from the ministry will be excluded from future
programmes like voter education. The circular is alleged
to have been signed by Heroes Celebrations Organising
Chairperson, Mr L.L Makombe. Some of the civil
servants that were contacted for comment said the fund
raising has gone on for three years.
Category of incident
Theft/looting
Discrimination
Intimidation/harassment
*Proud Kanengoni, wearing blood stained clothes after
Zanu PF supporters assaulted him (Picture by ZPP)
Category of incident
Assault
Theft/looting
Discrimination
Unlawful Detention
Intimidation/harassment
June 2017
1
2
5
1
4
June 2017
2
1
4
May 2017
7
7
22
May 2017
0
0
3
1
7
Threat level: Low
On 24 June, in preparation for the presidential Interface
rally in Lupane, school heads were told to attend the
rally together with school children. All other political
parties have been barred from holding meetings until
after 14 July. There is increased police presence and
other security details. People have also been told not to
hold unnecessary gatherings without informing the
police.
Threat level: Low
Teachers from various schools around Bikita South are
allegedly forced to make monetary contributions
towards Heroes Day celebrations. It is alleged that a
circular was sent from the District Education Office to
Tamuka Secondary School. Each teacher is supposed to
pay $1 while heads of schools are supposed to pay $2.
For fear of victimisation, most teachers are contributing
as it was said that those who do not are either not
patriotic or they support opposition parties.
At a funeral of war veteran Jorum Sibanda, Zanu PF
supporters disrupted the gathering and began forcing
individuals to chant party slogans saying that they were
preparing people for the presidential youth interface
rally to be held on 14 July. While the funeral
proceedings were underway on 28 June, it is said that
Zanu PF youth activists led by Mbongeni Mpofu and
Chapuka Mudenda from Gomoza ward in Lupane West
18