process of conducting the election. The case was reported to the police but no
arrests were made.
Manicaland
Manicaland has been battling to remove the last remnants of the ‘gamatox’ mainly in
the administrative structures of government and quasi government departments.
(‘Gamatox’ refers to Zanu-PF members aligned to former Vice President, Joice
Mujuru, who was ousted from party for allegedly plotting against President Robert
Mugabe.)
Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mandi Chimene and Local
Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, are allegedly conducting ‘cleansing
ceremonies’ in the city of Mutare all in an effort to get rid of ‘gamatox’ remnants and
replace them with Kasukuwere loyalists who are better placed to push the G40 agenda.
On the other hand, People First seem to be gaining ground in the province with known
Zanu-PF and MDC-T members jumping ship and jostling for a place in the new party.
The state through the village heads seem determined to curtail freedom of assembly and
expression of opposition party members as the clock ticks towards the 2018 general
elections.
Highlights:
On 23 January 2016, at Kambarami Village in Mutare North Ward 5, MDC-T
members wore their party regalia at a funeral of their party member Simon
Tirarami. The village head, Innocent Kambarami was allegedly infuriated on
seeing the regalia and reportedly dragged the victims – John Mukwandi, Simon
Zvedi and Norest Mupfumbi (not their real names) to the headman’s court over
the matter. The same happened on 9 January 2016 at Maoko Village Ward 11
Mutare North when an army officer allegedly threatened Tapiwa Zondo (not real
name) of MDC-T and others at a funeral of their colleague putting on party
regalia. The officer allegedly threatened Zondo with physical harm for allowing
his party members to behave as they did.
On 20 January 2016, more than 100 protesters led by Esau Mupfumi, Zanu-PF MP
Chikanga, demonstrated against city Management and the Town Clerk Obert
Muzawazi at Civic Centre Mutare. They accused them of being corrupt. However
they did not substantiate the claims. It is believed the victims are suspected
‘gamatox’ and their bashing is as a result of factional politics. The Town Clerk
has since resigned from the job. When ZPP spoke to Mupfumi to confirm the
demonstrations and whether or not he provided buses for them, he was reluctant to
commit himself one way or the other, saying only that, “I don’t know,” before
blasting the ZPP for working for “whites”. Efforts to reach Muzavazi and other
city managers were not fruitful by the time of going to print.
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