7.7 Masvingo
Provincial
Highlights
Monday 11 October was a
fresh low in Zimbabwe’s
politics following the
unprecedented attack on
opposition MDC Alliance
leader Nelson Chamisa as he
was making the first trip of his
national campaign trail to
Masvingo.
The incident, in which Zanu PF
supporters ambushed and stoned
Chamisa’s convoy leaving five injured,
immediately became the highlight of
the province.
By the end of the day, videos and
pictures shared by the MDC Alliance
showed a damaged vehicle and dozens
of people carrying placards denouncing
“sanctions” could be seen blocking a
rural dirt road.
ZPP has since established that in
exchange for a token, Zanu PF
supporters were hired from as far as
Ward 6 Summerton and Ward 15 in
King Mine area to barricade the roads
and throw stones at Chamisa’s convoy.
Some of the leaders of the violent
attack are one Nhamo Chivanhu
Nemamwa and a Mrs Chapwanya.
There were allegations that this attack
was coordinated by Masvingo West
legislator who is also the Masvingo
Minister of Provincial Affairs and
Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.
According to the details established by
the ZPP, the hired crowd was bussed
from Summerton and King Mine areas
on the morning of 11 October 2021
and they were ordered not to wear
their Zanu PF regalia so that they could
not be associated with the Zanu PF
party.
Government spokesperson Nick
Mangagwa denied that they were Zanu
PF supporters, but that was just before
the party’s Acting Political Commissar
Patrick Chinamasa admitted that the
attack had been orchestrated and
executed by Zanu PF members who ‘did
not want Chamisa to address them as
he had forced himself on them’.
In what exposes the unconstitutional
collusion between the State and the
ruling party, state security agents
allegedly continued to hound
Chamisa’s convoy as he toured other
areas like Masvingo, Chivi, Ngundu,
Mwenezi, Triangle, Chiredzi, Zaka and
Gutu.
Assistant Commissioner Florence
Marume, who up to now has not
arrested any of the alleged
perpetrators is said to be a high
ranking member of Zanu PF, which
raises questions on her impartiality as
a civil servant who is supposed to serve
the interest of all Zimbabweans. She is
the secretary for Legal Affairs in
Masvingo Province.
The incidents of violence were
worrying considering that Zanu PF has
a well-documented history of political
violence against the opposition.
If these incidents continue
unaddressed by the responsible
authorities at these early stages,
Zimbabwe is likely to erupt into a
politically volatile environment as the
country heads towards 2023.