Provincial Summaries
Bulawayo
October had fewer incidents and violations reported in Bulawayo compared to
the previous month. However, cases of intra party conflicts within both ZanuPF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC- T) continued to be noted
due to persistent factionalism in the two parties. Within the MDC-T, it is
suspected that the divisions led to the party’s president, Morgan Tsvangirai, not
attending the burial of their late Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkulumane
constituency, Thamsanqa Mahlangu, as party members were mired in serious
divisions. Tsvangirai and party representatives have, however, since refuted
that
there
were
any
altercations
internal
to
the
party.
In Zanu-PF, the party started jostling for the vacant Nkulumane seat as it was
more likely they would win it since the major opposition parties would not be
contesting citing absence of electoral reforms. Within the ruling party two
camps have emerged of late with one being allegedly led by one, George Mlala,
believed to be a front for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and another
faction supposedly led by provincial chairperson, Alderman Dennis Ndlovu, and
some war veterans. The ruling party is also on record denying such divisions
exist.
Highlights:
On 24 October 2015, in Ward 5, Regate District, an ex-political detainee
and Zanu-PF member allegedly threatened to beat up a member of the
MDC-T, Sinikiwe Moyo (not real name), for publicly criticizing
government for wanting to compel O’Level students to go for driving
lessons. She said it was just a fundraising gimmick, which could not be
afforded as parents were already failing to pay fees. Moyo questioned
where parents would get driving lessons fees from. The victim, however,
quickly left the scene to avert the threat.
Harare
In Harare internal conflict was also noted in the ruling Zanu-PF as well as in the
main opposition party, MDC-T. Zanu-PF party held district elections in a number
of areas in Harare, including Dzivarasekwa and Mufakose. The elections in
Dzivarasekwa and Mufakose were chaotic as supporters disagreed with leaders
whom they accused of imposing candidates on them. In Dzivarasekwa
supporters from two factions ended up fighting, while in Mufakose the election
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