Masvingo
A Zanu-PF candidate Blessing Mazinyame romped to victory in a Ward 5 Chiredzi Town
local council by election whose voter turn-out was only 771. The winner is said to have
gained 685 votes. However, this figure is 23% of the total registered voters in the ward
signifying a high level of voter apathy. The seat was previously held by an MDC-T memberHatinyari Munyaradzi who lost the seat after being arrested and serving a nearly one year jail
term. In keeping with its policy of boycotting elections unless electoral reforms are effected
the MDC-T did not field any candidate in this election.
Highlights:
On 1 April 2016, a district lands officer for Bikita (East) was accused of allocating
land to MDC-T members. The accusers who include Mashanda Nyangare and Victor
Rungani of Zanu-PF allegedly approached the victim at his work place at Nyika
Centre and demanded that he tenders a resignation letter for corruptly allocating land
without clearance from Zanu-PF. The actors threatened to physically deal with the
victim if he refused to resign.
On 2 April 2016, in Bikita West Ward 13, there was a ward meeting where the
councillor was informing people to list people in need of food aid. One, Peter Makova
(Zanu-PF) stood up and allegedly said that only Zanu-PF members should access the
food. Any opposition party member who needed to be considered for the food should
first of all surrender by bringing for destruction party regalia and affiliation cards,
Makova said.
On 12 April 2016, in Chivi Central Ward 12 Mukundu Village, people including
MDC-T members were forced to pay US$1-00 per household by the ward councillor
Munashe Pwanyai (Zanu PF).
In Chiredzi West Ward 5, Zanu-PF candidate romped to victory in the by-election
boycotted by the main challenger, the MDC-T. The winner garnered 685 votes while
the total votes cast were 771.The total votes cast represent 23% of the total registered
voters in the ward a sign of massive voter apathy.
Matebeleland North
There were NPRC Bill public hearings in Victoria Falls, Hwange and Lupane. In all three
towns the people unequivocally rejected the Bill in its current form saying it is led by the
perpetrating regime and disputed the powers proposed for the minister against what is
proposed in the constitution. Food situation remained critical. Incidents of partisan
distribution were on the increase. Poverty levels in Hwange and the resultant social ills
persisted as the workers have now gone for two years without salaries. Colliery workers are
now in conflict with their Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) counterparts
whom they accuse of taking their spouses as the ZESA workers have money. On a positive
note the Zambezi River gained significant inflows and people in Binga are now catching
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