M atabeleland North
For the month of August Matabeleland witnessed violations mostly associated with
deliberate deprivation of food and means of livelihood. As with other provinces, there were
also recorded cases of infringement on property rights, both movable and immovable
property.
• On 12 August 2015, the eve of the First Lady Grace Mugabe’s visit to Binga, a group of
suspected Zanu PF youths led by ward youth chairperson Amos Musaka, accompanied
by Richard Muzamba and Joseph Mudimba forcibly diverted a truck and two buses
with passengers on board belonging to Madzanwe Bus Company. The youths ordered
the drivers of the vehicles to ferry people to Manjolo Centre where the First Lady was
holding a rally the following day. The diverted buses were headed for Bulawayo and
Hwange. The two drivers are reported to have abandoned their buses and fled, only to
return the following morning with police. The police cautioned the youths regarding
their behavior and no arrests were made. It is reported that one of the bus drivers was
assaulted by the youths, while the hijacked passengers were forced to chant Zanu PF
slogans all night.
• In Tsholotsho North, Chief Siphoso and the Forestry Commission noted that people in
the area were being deprived of benefits like employment and beneficiation from the
Sihazola and Gwabazabuya forests where two private commercial companies were
harvesting timber. The two companies, Forestry Lysippus and Alumcury, are said have
also defaulted paying their timber logging fees to Tsholotsho Rural District Council.
Chief Siphoso and the Forestry Commission are then believed to have banned the two
companies from operating in the area with effect from 6 August 2015.
• On 8 August 2015, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Lupane Depot dismissed 17 of its
18 workers. The official reason using the July 17 Supreme Court ruling which allowed
dismissal on three months notice. However, one of the dismissed employees, Siso
Zitha, alleged that the decision to fire them was based on their supposed support of the
former vice president Joice Mujuru.
• Settlers believed to have illegally occupied Phillip Farm belonging to Brian Philip a few
months ago in Bubi, are said to be increasing in number, depriving 90 herd of cattle of
grazing land. The settlers have refused to heed calls by the police to vacate the
property. The invasion has also rendered employees at the farm jobless as operations
on the farm have ceased.
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