#PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
MANICALAND
HE SAID ZANU PF WOULD
UNLEASH VIOLENCE LIKE
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008
WHEN OVER 200
OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS
WERE KILLED FOLLOWING
AN OPPOSITION
ELECTORAL VICTORY.
MAT
SOUTH
MRP ACTIVISTS TOLD
VILLAGERS NOT TO VOTE FOR
SHONA LED POLITICAL
PARTIES
In Manicaland, the systematic harassment,
intimidation and discrimination of opposition
political supporters continued, and the major
perpetrators were Zanu PF officials, supporters and
activists as well as traditional and local leaders.
For example, in Ward 5 of Buhera West, the legislator
Soul Dzuma told villagers at a rally that those who
were not attending Zanu PF meetings were not going
to be allocated any share of the food aid that was to
be distributed in the areas. In Ward 17 of Chipinge
East, village head Chiororo called for a meeting and
told villagers that if they did not support or vote
Zanu PF in the 2023 elections, the party would
unleash violence like what happened in 2008 when
over 200 opposition supporters were killed following
an opposition electoral victory.
These and the other 18 cases recorded in the
province point to an escalation in intimidation tactics
ahead of the 2023 election
Following the death of Zimbabwean Elvis Nyathi who was
burnt to death in South Africa’s xenophobic attacks, a
Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) activists led by Zwelani
Nleya reportedly carried out a door-to-door campaign where
he and other MRP activists told villagers not to vote for Shona
led political parties as they are ‘responsible’ for the mass
exodus of the Zimbabweans to South Africa. The activists
further went on to say their party would not tolerate any
campaigns by Shona-led political parties in Matabeleland
provinces.
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