#PROVINCIAL OUTLOOK
MASVINGO
BULAWAYO
MAT
NORTH
Zanu PF continued to force traditional leaders to use their
influence to coerce villages to support and vote for Zanu PF in
the 2023 elections in Manicaland province.
In addition, there was increased intimidation and harassment
of suspected opposition supporters.
In Ward 18 of Zaka Central, village head Philip Munjanja
continued to issue threats and harassment targeting members
of his village. At a meeting Munjanja is said to have sent death
threats to all opposition CCC supporters in the area. He also
went on further to state that he was promised monetary
reward if Zanu PF won in Ward 18. The meeting was also
attended by Erick Makadho. And Imagine Mazivira both Zanu
PF loyalists.
Zanu PF continued with its crusade of forcing citizens to join the
party’s cell groups at Sizinda Shops. One Vumani Moyo walked
around with a Zanu PF register, forcing people to sign in their
names or risk losing their operating licences.
At the Mpompini of Cowdry Park in Luveve, a Zanu PF activist,
Mazwi Mloyi, denied a number of citizens access to water at a local
borehole sunk by government, allowing only Zanu PF members. We
urge an investigation into this politicisation of water.
ZIPRA affiliated war veterans through the ZIPRA Veterans Trust got
arrested after demonstrating in Bulawayo. The veterans were
demanding their properties and documents that were expropriated
as a result of the Unity Accord which brought together Zanu and
Zapu to give birth to Zanu PF. ZIPRA was the Zapu military wing
during the liberation struggle. Part of their demands were that the
state should return their properties and even their historical
documents that were expropriated at their offices by the military
police.
Zanu PF Vice-President Kembo Mohadi embarked on a mission to
force traditional leaders to vote and campaign for Zanu PF. This is
despite the Constitution stating that traditional leaders should be
apolitical. In Nkayi South, Mohadi met village heads and told them
that in addition to voting for Zanu PF in the 2023 elections, they
should bar any opposition parties from visiting their areas of
jurisdiction.
In Lupane West constituency, a Zanu PF DCC member, only
identified as Mrs. Sithole, summoned all village heads to attend a
closed door Zanu PF meeting where Mohadi was the guest of
honor. The village heads were forced to put on Zanu PF regalia and
in that meeting, it is said that Mohadi told village heads to vote for
Zanu PF and to never allow opposition parties the space to
campaign. In turn, Mohadi promised, government was going to
increase their payouts. Mohadi went on to do the same in
Tsholotsho South.
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