An identified local school bus driver was reportedly threatened with assault by Elias
Jongwe of Zanu PF after he had refused to accommodate some Zanu PF supporters on
his bus. The Zanu PF supporters were coming from the march in Harare. Jongwe and
some of the Zanu PF supporters started calling the bus driver a sell out. This happened
on 25 May in Chegutu West.
On 28 May, an MDC-T supporter was reportedly was found dead in Chegutu West
and was taken to the mortuary by the police. At the funeral his party colleagues were
wearing party regalia. It is alleged one of the MDC-T activists was approached by
Svinurai Kamba of Zanu PF who told her to be careful as 2018 was fast approaching.
Masvingo
The province has witnessed the militarization of food aid programs initiated by Government
to mitigate the effects of the El Nino induced drought in many constituencies. The ferrying
and distribution of food aid provided by the state is reported to be done by the army. The act
itself has the potential to instil fear mostly in the villagers who are likely to vote in a
particular way due to fear.
Denial of the right to information was also witnessed in the province.
Highlights:
On 23 May an civic society activist of Musikavanhu Chipinge was arrested while on
her way to Masvingo Great Zimbabwe University where she is pursuing some studies.
The victim was stopped at a road block just some ten kilometres from Masvingo town
by a police officer who introduced himself as constable Ndlovu. On the dash board of
the victim’s car was a copy of the constitution which when the officer had sight of
claimed was not allowed to be owned by the general public. The Officer took the
constitution and arrested the victim. The victim was forced to drive all the way to
Chikato police camp-a camp located near Mucheke Bus Terminus. The car was
impounded while the victim was told to go for her examinations at Great Zimbabwe
although she was supposed to return with a fine of $40-00 so as to reclaim the car.
The civic society activist (name withheld) has confirmed the incident.
In Chivi Central, ward 16, on 21 May, a house belonging to an identified ZimPF
member of Nhara village was set on fire by suspected Zanu PF members. The victim
is an active member in the ZimPF party. The arson attack happened on the night of 21
May while the victim was asleep and was awoken by the bright light caused by the
flames. While the actors could not be apprehended, the case is suspected to be
politically motivated judging by the victim’s activism.
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