On 7 November 2015, at Dombwe Business Centre in Ward 17 in Chegutu East, a
member of the MDC-T, was dragged out of the party rally Tsvangirai was
addressing and assaulted by another supporter known as “General” Chidhakwa.
He was accused of being drunk and disrespecting the party leader as he was
making noise as Tsvangirai was addressing the rally.
It is alleged that farms are being re-demarcated in Hurungwe East for Zanu-PF
youths loyal to constituency legislator, Sarah Mahoka. Those whose farms are
targeted are party members who have been labelled supporters of former Vice
President Mujuru. Mahoka addressed a meeting in Chikangwe Hall in Karoi and
indicated that farms are being given to ten youths per farm. It is alleged the youths
are being used to perpetrate violence against people who are against the
ascendancy of the First Lady in the party and against opposition party members.
The youths have already started being used for ground work for 2018 elections, it
is alleged. The demarcated farms are in Ward 3 and in Kasimure area. However,
asked about the matter by ZPP, Mahoka denied any knowledge of it.
On 22 November 2015, at Wamika Club, village head, Sabina Munzwandi,
allegedly ‘manhandled’ a woman who had voted for Aubrey Hativagone as ZanuPF chairperson in Mhondoro Mubaira. She wanted the lady to vote for headman
Taka Mushandu. The lady who wanted to fight back questioned why she could not
vote for the candidate. People had to intervene to avert a fist fight.
Masvingo
Hippo Valley and Triangle Estates have been the economic life blood of the province
employing thousands of workers and contributing directly to the fiscus through taxes.
Since end of November, estates workers have been on industrial action which some
believe is politically-motivated. The strike has the effect of causing massive sugar
shortages as a whole two weeks production has been lost costing both the company and
the government thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
Some prominent politicians are suspected to be behind the industrial action.
Highlights:
On 27 November 2015, general workers at Hippo Valley Estate in Chiredzi
embarked on industrial action demanding salary increase from the current
US$170 to US$600 per month. There are some prominent persons who are
allegedly supporting the strike and urging the workers not to return to work
until their pay demands are met.
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