PROVINCIAL SUMMARIES
Bulawayo
Several incidences around land and home ownership were recorded this month. From
hundreds of families that were left homeless through evictions from their farm homes, to
several others whose access to residential stands was curtailed due to corruption and
possible political bias, the issue of residence - where to reside – continues to be a recurring
challenge across the country. The right of freedom to assemble and right of representation
were also violated in a few of the incidences in the province.
•
In a case of intra-party conflict within Zanu PF, sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for
Luveve who recently got voted in during the by elections on 3 August 2015, Hon.
Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo,
allegedly barred fellow party member Kidwell Mujuru from
conducting party meetings at his sports bar as all meetings had to be sanctioned by
the MP. Late last year Mujuru is understood to have crossed over from the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC-T) to join Zanu PF. Unconfirmed suspicions are that the
current MP feels Mujuru might be plotting to oust him in the 2018 elections.
•
On 5 August 2015, four families occupying part of Willsgrove Farm on the outskirts of
Bulawayo along Gwanda Road were left homeless after the deputy sheriff and the
police demolished their homesteads. The families were left exposed to the cold
weather after the destruction of their houses. They lost cash and livestock worth
thousands of dollars in the process. Dogs, pets and over two thousand chickens were
lost during the demolitions. Household property was loaded onto trucks and dumped in
the bush near Manningdale Suburb. The farm is reportedly owned by McDonald Bricks,
who allegedly said the families were illegal occupants.
•
On 12 August 2015, the people of Makokoba Ward 7 were allegedly denied their right
to choose their own representation on the Radio Dialogue committee. Political party
activists clashed with Councillor James Sithole whom they accused of trying to impose
his MDC-T colleagues on the committee. It is alleged that an argument ensued and this
forced the returning officer and Radio Dialogue staffer, Sharon Sithole, to postpone the
elections to a later date. It is suspected that those who protested were Zanu PF
supporters.
•
Residents of Mpopoma/Pelandaba are alleging that councilors are corruptly selling
residential stands. They have since petitioned the MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, to
intervene since the councillors belong to his party.
Tsvangirai has reportedly
appointed MP for Bulawayo South, Hon. Eddie Cross to investigate and report to him.
The residents await the outcome.
Harare
The land issue was a major source of conflict in Harare in the past month. Zanu PF supporters
continue to grab council land and illegally allocate it to gullible citizens who unsuspectingly
buy parcels of land. This results in demolition of houses and loss of money by individuals when
later the authorities call them up on building illegally. This causes considerable conflict.
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