Highlights:
Six Zanu (PF) councillors in Chivi Central have set conditions that if not
met will disqualify the villagers from accessing free government inputs
this season. The councillors led by Phillip Hungwe (Ward 1) and Enock
Shindi (Ward 26) are forcing villagers to pay US$2-00 as council
development levy formerly hut tax per family and US$2-00 per cattle as
dip tank levy as a pre-condition for them to be listed for government
agriculture assistance. Failure to pay the required levies will disqualify
the villagers. On 2 October 2015, the councillors called for a meeting at
Chivi turn-off where the above conditions were spelt out. The other
councillors in support of the move are Saunders Magwizi Ward 2, Godard
Duvira Ward 30, Renias Mutasa Ward 18 and Colleta Anna Ward 12.
There was drama on 24 October 2015, in Ward 18 Triangle at Zanu (PF)
restructuring meeting, when Darlington Chiwa’s wife won the post of
chairlady beating Kudzi Bere, an alleged Mnangagwa ally, by a wide
margin. The defeated candidate in a fit of rage allegedly grabbed the
victor by the collar intending to assault her. Darlington Chiwa saved the
day by diffusing the fight.
Matabeleland North
The number of violations was down in the province in October. Poverty and
famine resulted in several school children dropping out of school. Two thirds of
the dropouts were said to be girls. Most of the girls aged between 13 and 15 are
forced into early sexual abuses and marriages especially in Binga and Hwange
districts. Some parents send their girl children into early marriages just to raise
money for food.
Binga South started registering villagers for government drought relief food but
reports said the process was heavily politicized by mostly Zanu-PF members
who were discriminating against perceived opposition activists.
Villagers in districts like Tsholotsho were said to be demanding beneficiation
from their natural resource like timber and wildlife.
Highlights:
On 31 October 2015, in the Lusulu area Zanu-PF district chairperson,
Amos Munsaka, who was reportedly registering people for government
drought relief programme, told villagers that he would only register
ruling party supporters as they cannot feed 'traitors' who support
opposition parties. One Gogo MaNgwenya (not real name) and a male
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