JULY 2017
It is alleged that an MDC-T activist *Aaron Jena was
denied food aid by ZanuPF councillor Onismo Gono
during a social welfare food aid distribution in
Mazarabani South Nyadukutu business centre ward 3 on
14 July. Gono took over the distribution and omitted
Jena’s name intentionally because he is an MDC-T
activist. This incident left villagers concerned because
Jena is 72 years old and is in dire need of food aid.
It is alleged that ZanuPF councillor Samuel Machumi
forced villagers to contribute a bucket of maize towards
the upcoming Heroes Day commemorations. Machumi
ordered village heads to move around Mpinyuri,
Nyanhete and Mubaiwa villages collecting maize
contributions. This incident was recorded on 23 July in
Muzarabani South ward 11.
Chegutu East ZanuPF chairperson Fanuel Makamure
threatened and intimidated social welfare beneficiaries at
a food distribution point on 12 July with punishment if
they did not vote for ZanuPF. The social welfare food
distribution targeted food for work beneficiaries, the
elderly, people with disabilities and chronically ill
community members. Makamure added that his party
would punish opposition supporters during the coming
2018
elections.
The
punishment
was
not
specified.
Seven village heads are forcing people to contribute food
to a builder who is constructing teachers’ houses at
Donzwe Secondary School in Masahwa ward 12 of
Mudzi South. Villagers are being forced to contribute a
bucket of maize and a bucket of cowpeas until the
builder finishes building. Masahwa villagers are not
happy with these forced contributions stating that they
suspect village heads will take some of the food for
themselves. Nyamhanza village head, Rudo Makombe
and Nyakutira village head, Howard Bvunzawabaya are
among the village heads being accused. Some of the
villagers who were forced to contribute are *Jairos
Mbizi, *Enoch Mumba and *Joseph Kashumba.
ZanuPF women’s league secretary for Masvingo West,
Lydia Sigauke, allegedly ordered residents to register
for food aid on 5 July in ward 33, King Mine Mashava.
During an exercise that should not be executed by a
party secretary, Sigauke is said to have announced that
those who do not register will be viewed as MDC-T
supporters and will be dealt with accordingly when the
right time comes.
In Chivi Central at Nyamakwe Business Centre, it was
reported that on 18 July ZanuPF supporters, Chiedza
Muvengi, Ketai Mafa and Sostina Zivuku discriminated
*Kudzanai Ropa at a food distribution. It was alleged
that the three denied Ropa rice which was said to have
beeen from the constituency’s MP Ephraim
Gwanongodza before accusing her of being an MDC-T
activist. They are alleged to have said since the rice was
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