more
fish
for
sale
and
their
own
consumption.
Lupane District saw continued increase in numbers of suspected Central Intelligence
Operatives.
Highlighted cases were of food violations. (See food section below for these.)
Matebeleland South
Zanu-PF activists were accused in incidents of denying political rivals access to food.
The major political parties started campaigns in earnest as they competed in membership
recruitment drives. No major incidents of physical confrontation were recorded. Public
hearings on the NPRC Bill were held in the province and the people outrightly rejected the
Bill in its current form as they complained about how the Bill accorded a lot of power to the
Minister responsible against what had been proposed in the constitution. Civic society
organisations were able to carry out their activities without hindrance though there was
notable increase in security agents. Political parties were seen campaigning without incident.
Highlights:
On 2 April, Zanu-PF ward chairperson Edison Moyo addressed villagers at Ntalale
Centre in Gwanda South and said everyone was required to donate US$2 each for
the upcoming Independence Day gala to be held at the centre. He said people had to
show support for Zanu-PF by donating and those who declined would be viewed as
enemies and sell-outs. Many people donated but only a few attended the event.
On 18 April 2016, Zanu-PF members in Umzingwane were reportedly going around
forcing people to attend Independence Day celebrations at Khumbudzi Centre.
People from afar were ordered to fund their own transport to and from the centre.
Those who could not afford were threatened with unspecified action. Some were
afraid they might lose out on relief food and so had to go.
On 19 April 2016, at Ntepe Village in Ward 14, Gwanda Central, during the funeral
of the late village head, John Rendo Ntepe, Zanu-PF councillor and a member of
Johan Masowe church, Phineas Maphosa chanted Zanu-PF slogans and the family
complained and had to call the chief to reprimand the councillor. Chief Nhlamba
came and chastised the councillor and members of his church. The perpetrators then
left the funeral.
Midlands
ZimPF, which was recently launched amid pomp and fun fare, is finding the going tough as it
tries to establish itself on the ground. Its recent efforts to establish grassroots political
structures have met with a lot of resistance from Zanu-PF. A number of its meetings have
been disrupted by Zanu-PF youths who are eager to see the ‘new born baby’ die in its
infancy. One such incident occurred in Redcliff on 24 April 2016 at Rutendo Hall where
ZimPF had mobilized and intended to create party structures. Before the meeting could begin,
a group of Zanu-PF members led by Munyaradzi Makore, Wellington Zhou, Clemence
Sibanda and Terence Shava stormed the venue and drove the gathered ZimPF members out.
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