AUGUST 2017
before assaulting her. The youths confiscated the
T/shirt and burnt it. Vheremu’s friends came to her
rescue and clothed her.
Zanu PF district chairperson Stanford Garahwe
allegedly forced Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF)
branch secretary Mackwen Marimo to contribute a
5kg bag of maize towards the Heroes’ Day
commemorations. Marimo was forced to confirm
that he will make the contribution in full view of
villagers from ward 8 in Shayambudzi village,
Guruve North on 5 August 2017.
In an incident recorded in Shamva North ward 8,
Zanu PF activists and village heads had a
procession to Mupfurudzi primary school
petitioning the ouster of a teacher Ayami Maphepha
for refusing to pay contributions towards Heroes’
Day commemorations. On 5 August Zanu PF
chairperson Dennis Marara instructed the school
head, Amos Tsuro, to remove Maphepha. Shamva
education inspectors attended the gathering in
solidarity with villagers who called for Maphepha’s
dismissal from work and eviction from the
community. The Zanu PF chairperson threatened to
assault Maphepha if he did not leave. An official at
the ministry of Home Affairs said he was unaware
of a directive to fund raise for Heroes Day
celebrations. Progressive Teachers Union of
Zimbabwe (PTUZ) condemned the initiative as
unconstitutional. Raymond Majongwe, PTUZ
secretary general, said their union was making
attempts to take legal action against government
officials that circulate letters ordering teachers to
make financial contributions towards national
events.
In Mt Darwin South ward 24, Zanu PF youth
Samson Banda allegedly forced an MDC-T activist
to pay double towards the Heroes’ Day
commemorations.
On 8 August Banda was
collecting $1 contributions in West View. When he
arrived at *Petronella Dzikita’s home and forced
her to pay $2. She believes she was unfairly
targeted because she is a known MDC-T supporter
Zanu PF ward 23 councillor, Godfrey Sosa
allegedly forced villagers to make contributions
towards the Heroes Day commemorations in
Muzarabani North at Museredzi village. On 8
August, Sosa instructed village head Marevesa
Matemayi to collect $1 contributions per household
without fail. Villagers were mobilized at Museredzi
and forced to contribute a $1, 5kg bags of mealie
meal or 750 ml of cooking oil. Matemayi told
villagers that failure to comply with the directive
would result in certain punishment hence people
contributed against their will.
On 5 August Zanu PF activist *Maureen Gumbo
was allegedly intimidated at a ruling party meeting
held at Rosa township ward 10 in Mazowe South.
Zanu PF ward coordinator Innocent Chayamiti
accused Gumbo of being aligned to Lacoste, a
faction suspected of links with Vice President
Mnangagwa. Gumbo was ordered to stand up and
she was ridiculed in front of her family and
villagers. She was told to repent or face the wrath of
ruling party supporters.
Zanu PF Guruve district schools administrator
Romeo Shangwa allegedly threatened secondary
and primary school heads who did not contribute
towards the Heroes’ Day commemorations.
Shangwa said those who did not contribute would
not benefit from government agricultural inputs
schemes or take part in elections as election agents.
He confirmed that a number of school heads did not
contribute although he did not mention their names.
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