#PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK MANICALAND SEVERAL VILLAGE HEADS WERE ASKED TO COME FORWARD AND CHANT ZANU PF SLOGANS MAT SOUTH MOHADI SUMMONED A MEETING WITH TRADITIONAL LEADERS AT PLUMTREE TOWN OFFICES WHERE THEY WERE TOLD TO MOBILIZE AND CAMPAIGN FOR ZANU PF Political polarization has continued in the province and in one of the incidents, at Machongwe Growth Pont, in Chimanimani East, a Zanu PF youth identified as Isaac Mapunga, who is also an aide to the sitting legislator, Joshua Sacco, allegedly stripped a CCC youth of his party t-shirt. No arrests were made. In another incident, on 10 May 2022, people were asked to gather at Musirizwi Primary School by Matewu Dhliwayo, a Zanu PF supporter to celebrate the new ZUPCO bus which the area had been allocated. Unfortunately, it was donated to the school. The event turned into a political rally and children, some as young as five, were forced to chant Zanu PF slogans. Several village heads were asked to come forward and chant Zanu PF slogans in contravention of the Constitution which states that traditional leaders are supposed to be apolitical. In Bulilima West, it was reported that Zanu PF Vice-President Kembo Mohadi summoned a meeting with traditional leaders at Plumtree town offices where they were told to mobilize and campaign for Zanu PF. It is alleged that Mohadi instructed all traditional leaders to partake in activities of the party so as to ensure victory in the much-anticipated 2023 elections. Mohadi also held another meeting at Esikhoveni Institute where he said the same thing to traditional leaders. His statement contravenes the Constitution where in Section 281, traditional leaders are supposed to be non-partisan. In another meeting, on the eve to the Africa Day celebrations, Vice-President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga summoned a meeting of all traditional leaders in Gwanda where they were told to mobilize for the party ahead for the 2023 general elections. 16

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