In a case that was recorded during the month under review, Zanu
PF through some Zaka legislators and party activists hijacked the
parcelling out of new flea market stalls at Jerera Growth Point,
Ward 19, Zaka Central. They took over production of a card
system from Zaka Rural District Council giving the stalls to its
membership in the district. This was despite a pre-existing
agreement to allocate stalls to individuals who had paid the
required fees 3 to 4 years prior, in favour of card carrying ZANU
PF members. In some of the reported cases, traditional leaders
were again responsible for perpetrating discrimination with
some being holders of positions within the ruling party; which is
against provisions of the Zimbabwe Constitution. ZPP continues
to remind traditional leaders that they are custodians of culture
and must be a uniting force instead of facilitating divisions
among citizens.
On 19 March, about 12 Zanu PF activists
led by Dick Kwanona summoned parents
and guardians at Tsengurwe Primary
School in Mt Darwin South to re-elect
members for the School Development
Committee (SDC). Kwanona told the
audience that they had dissolved the
current SDC committee claiming that it was
dominated by MDC supporters. Reports
confirm that they tried to coerce parents to
select a new SDC committee led by Zanu
PF District Chairperson Frank Dick but
villagers defied their orders. Kwanona and
his colleagues left theschool threatening
retributory action against all those who had
defied their orders.
Food discrimination case file- In Simangani Village at ward 10 of
Hwange East, a Zanu PF activist, known as Ambrose Shoko a
village head, told opposition members to excuse themselves
during a food distribution exercise. Shoko told opposition members to receive food aid from their political party
as they continue to disregard the leadership of President
Mnangagwa.
In Mazowe South, two Zanu PF Councillors
reportedly harassed a villager at Rujeko High School
during an Annual General Meeting where parents
were electing new members for the SDC. On 1
March, the two councilors refused to accept the
election of the victim as the new SDC Chairperson
for unspecified reasons. They humiliated Gova in full
view of parents, calling him derogatory names
before instructing him to leave the school premises.
They also undermined the School Headmaster and
Deputy Headmaster who were in charge of the
proceedings and stated that they will soon replace
the victim with a ruling party candidate.
Other Aid Discrimination Case File- on 25 March
Vongai Kufa and Wilson Charamba of Charamba village
in Zaka East, ward 20 denied a villager pesticide that
they were entitled to receive under the government
army worm program citing that the pesticide was only
for those who attended ruling party meetings. This was
despite the fact that the inputs were from the
presidential input scheme that is supposed to benefit
everyone regardless of political party affiliation.
Barely a year after imposing a ban on the multicurrency system, the RBZ Governor announced that the
USD could be used for purchasing ‘essential goods’.
On 25 March that citizens were now free to use the USD in their day to day transactions so as to ease transaction
pressure during the crisis period. The move was also meant to promote social distancing, a requisite in the fight
against the spread of Corona virus. What is not clear to citizens is what will happen after the crisis has passed?
Will the ban be re-imposed? Such lack of clarity in policy makes Zimbabwe unstable for investment and negatively
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