Mnangagwa's 'fumigation' rant draws fire

Tue, 25 Apr 2017

Blessings Mashaya  

HARARE - Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s claim that the ruling party is “fumigating” elements bent on weakening it ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections has angered some people who claim that the statement reminds them of the Gukurahundi killings of innocent civilians in the early 1980s.

This comes as Mnangagwa’s name has been mentioned regularly in association with the massacres. But in a recent interview with a British newspaper, the VP vehemently denied the accusations saying at the time of the killings there was a commander in chief of the army and so he could not have issued orders as a mere minister.

Speaking at the burial of the late Zanu PF Midlands deputy provincial chairperson, Kizito Chivamba, over the weekend, Mnangagwa said Zanu PF was currently in the process of dealing with all people who are causing problems in the party.

“Chivamba has gone at a time when the party is internally fumigating itself from elements bent on weakening and destabilising it ahead of the 2018 elections.

“It is in this spirit that I call upon all those he has left behind to remain united as we gear ourselves towards victory in the 2018 elections,” Mnangagwa said.

“Chivamba was like Job of the Bible. He was accused of a lot of things when he was in the party, which led to his suspension. However, the truth later prevailed and he was cleared. This is because the truth is like light — it prevails over darkness,” he added.

The comments have since drawn the ire of the opposition, human rights groups as well as some of his colleagues in the ruling party.

“While it does  not concern us  how Zanu PF deals with its internal issues, however, as the ruling party, we can only assume that the way it deals with such issues reflects the manner it solves national issues so for me it doesn’t surprise me,” former National Healing minister Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, said.

“It’s the kind of statement that we condemn. When you talk of fumigating you are talking about killing,” he said.

Mzila-Ndlovu said Zimbabweans must also take the blame “for taking this nonsense quietly and failing to act”.

“We have seen the destruction of property. He (Mnangagwa) has never known any consequence for his behaviour. He knows that he can be arrogant without any consequence at the end.

“The role of government is to protect people, but they are doing the opposite. I find it unforgivable if Zanu PF wants to live with that, it shows that they are acting like zombies,” he said.

Mnangagwa has denied the allegations that he stoked tensions during the Gukurahundi era, after he was said to have uttered words to the effect that dissidents were cockroaches that required the use of DDT.

Still, ZimRights director Okay Machisa said Mnangagwa must apologise for using that language.

“If you talk about fumigating you are talking of killing. It’s not good language. There are so many words that fit into what he wants to do . . . fumigating . . . you are killing in large numbers,” Machisa said.

“It reminds people of Gukurahundi. As Zimbabweans, we need to refrain from using such language. Whether it’s Zanu PF or opposition parties, there is need to deal with differences peacefully. I call upon the vice president to use language that promotes unity among people of Zimbabwe,” he added.

Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo also joined the bandwagon, firing brickbats at Mnangagwa on social media for using the controversial word.

“Zanu PF fumigating itself. Use of the word ‘fumigating’ is as most unfortunate as it is revealing!” Moyo tweeted.

“Fumigation is a method of pest control that completely fills an area with gaseous pesticides — or fumigants — to suffocate the pest with the poison within,” he added.

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Zimbabwe's stolen dream

Wed, 19 Apr 

Zimbabweans from all walks of life yesterday bemoaned the wretched life that they continue to endure under President Robert Mugabe and his warring Zanu-PF's misrule of the past 37 years of the country's independence from Britain.

This comes as Zimbabwe's economy continues to die - as manifested by rising poverty levels and joblessness, as well as the worsening cash crisis which has heightened fears that the country could soon hit the disastrous lows of 2008.

Many of the people who spoke to the Daily News said the prevailing economic situation in the country was making it difficult for them to appreciate the country's independence.

"The political independence we got has to a large extent been derailed because it is only a few people who are benefitting from it in terms of employment. Everything went wrong after independence.

"After 1980, the wealth of the country was not shared equitably, with those in power sharing everything with their cronies.

"There is general economic paralysis while service delivery is very poor. That is the reason why people are not happy. Things are just not working at all," former Cabinet minister and liberation struggle stalwart, Rugare Gumbo, said.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC also accused Mugabe and Zanu-PF of "completely ruining" a once prosperous economy through corruption and their destructive policies.

"Although we achieved political independence, we have dismally failed to build a united nation. On the economic front, it has been a disastrous 37 years because we have seen Zimbabwe degenerating from being the bread basket of southern Africa into a basket case, where more than 75 percent of the population is living in abject poverty.

"We have also allowed corruption to take root in all the facets of our lives. Going forward, we should strive to unite the people by seeking to build strong institutions as opposed to building strong personalities," MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Daily News.

Zimbabwe is currently deep in the throes of a ginormous economic crisis which has seen tens of thousands of desperate ordinary citizens besieging banks on a daily basis seeking to withdraw their money.

The shortages of cash have since forced the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to set the maximum limit for cash-back facilities by retailers and wholesalers at $20, as authorities desperately try to mitigate the worsening crisis.

At the same time, economists have told the Daily News that poverty levels in the country are skyrocketing, with average incomes now at their lowest levels in more than 60 years - and with more than 76 percent of the country's families now having to make do with pitiful incomes that are well below the poverty datum line of more than $500.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) political commissar, Francis Nhando, said yesterday that "the tragedy of Zimbabwe" was that when Mugabe was elected the country's leader in 1980, he had allegedly continued to use Rhodesian policies.

"People misinterpreted what (the late Rhodesian prime minister Ian) Smith meant when he said not in a 1 000 years.

"What he actually meant is that the interests of black people would not be achieved in a thousand years and that the interests of white people would continue to reign.

"As things stand, we have a perpetuation of the ... Smith rule. This is why you will never see white people in bank queues or in kombis (commuter omnibuses), or in high density suburbs ... which all means that we are still living in the Smith era," Nhando said.

Mugabe - the only leader that Zimbabweans have ever known since the country got its independence from Britain in 1980 - stands accused of ruining the once-vibrant economy through bad policies.

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2018 Election: Sanyati residents live in fear of State sponsored Political Violence

2018 Election: Sanyati residents live in fear of State sponsored Political Violence

As the nation braces for the 2018 polls, Sanyati residents in the Midlands province said they are living in constant fear of state sponsored politically motivated violence. They fear being victimised for supporting the opposition in what is reminiscent of the 2008 reign of terror where hundreds of opposition supporters were murdered. The ugly beast is again in season as Zanu-PF has allegedly already unleashed its weapon of choice, as evidenced by the setting up of terror bases by the Zanu-PF militias who are already toyi-toying wielding dangerous weapons in the area.Visibly panicking villagers gave horrifying tales of how they are already being cowed into submission by the Zanu-PF terror squads and added that these threats evoke the 2008 memories. One after the other, they narrated the trauma they have gone through since the 2002 election and the succeeding elections. One villager who chose to remain anonymous for fear of further victimisation had this to say, "Tiri kugara tichityisidzirwa kunzi tichakuitayi zvatakaita 2008." She further went on to narrate her 2008 ordeal of how she lost all her property to Zanu-PF arsonists in 2008. "Ndakapisirwa musha ndaenda kugraduation yemwana kuGweru ndikazoita zvekufonerwa nacouncillor kuti musha wakapiswa." Apparently the councillor was Zanu-PF.

She further went on to bemoan the partisan food distribution saying "We are being denied inputs because of our known affiliation to MDC-T. I am a political activist for the opposition and my name has been removed from the food distribution list. Without an iota of shame, our village head openly told us to go and get inputs from 'Tsvangirai baba venyu' inferring that the current distribution was from their political father President Mugabe.Tinoda kuti zvinhu zvakaita sechikafu, mbeu nefertiliser zvinobva kuhurumende zvisvike zvisina mutupo kana zita reparty." She said as women, they are always the victims and are also the most affected by political violence or other human rights violations. "As women we bear the brunt of these violations, because of joblessness and the economic meltdown we face and endure the wrath of these violations." She lamented.

Another victim of this Zanu-PF tyranny from ARDA ward 18 intimated that the neighbourhood watch committee members (vana ndinindamubata) and youth officers drawn from the famed Boarder Gezi national youth service recently underwent training by the "maguta" soldiers to weed out the opposition in the area in preparation for the forthcoming 2018 election. He further went on to say that "We don't know the duties and responsibility of these youth officers in our community save that they terrorise us. We are living in fear because 'takamborohwa, kupisirwa misha uye vamwe vakauraiwa asi takashaya protection zvikangorova zvakadero saka tave kutya kuti tinodzokororwa futi." She referred to Samson Abedinico Matore who was brutally murdered in 2002 at Neuso Growthpoint in Sanyati. He pointed out that well known notorious Zanu-PF assailants "Tsanga, Chucknorris, Pembedza, Zebra Kubvoruno and Dyodyo" in 2008 terrorised villagers but up to this day they are still moving scot free. They are back to their wanton ways of intimidating villagers because they are the law unto themselves. Our pleas are not being heard because the law enforcement agents in Zimbabwe have chosen to act unconstitutionally and side with Zanu-PF hooligans and this has allowed Zanu-PF activists to operate above the law and commit a series of atrocities.

Several other victims interviewed bemoaned the invisibility of international observers on the ground in remote areas such as Sanyati during election time. One victim had this to say "Tinoda maInternational observers vauye vaone zvinoitika kuno kumaruwa vagonosvitsawo mberi zvavanenge vaona." He said the 'sabhuku nevanhu vake' tactic was being used to criminally frog-march subjects to Zanu-PF meetings, and ultimately to the polls so as to absolutely make sure that they vote for Zanu-PF. He said it is a deliberate tactic by the Zanu-PF government to ignore the poor state of rural roads in remote parts of the country so that international observers would not access these places where the party perceives to garner much of its grassroots support and coerces voters to vote against their will.One war veteran and village head, bemoaned the disbanding of JOMIC and gave a nostalgic tale of how he used to support Zanu-PF since the war of liberation but has now since jumped ship to join the opposition MDC-T because the regime has long since abandoned the ideals of the war of liberation that brought independence. He intimated that he held several Zanu-PF party posts and had worked as a civil servant for forty (40) years but said 'ndakatorerwa plot ndichinzi uri munhu weMDC, uri mutengesi.' We operate under very strict orders and we are forced to commandeer people to Zanu-PF meetings but as a headman I feel and I know it is wrong.

These threats alone really show that "leopards do not change their spots." This leaves the electorate with a lot of questions and extremely worried because Zanu-pf is sending a clear message that they do not want the 2018 election to be free and fair. Zanu-PF uses security forces, traditional leaders and party youths to violate civic human rights. Violence has been woven through the intricate fabric of Zimbabwe's political history. Cases of political violence in Zimbabwe have largely been as a result of the resolve by the regime to ensure President Robert Mugabe stays in office at all costs. History is clear how President Robert Mugabe has thrived on unleashing war and terror on his opponents and innocent unarmed civilians as evidenced by the Gukurahundi atrocities that massacred 20 000 lives and the 2008 political violence that resulted in the deaths of 200 opposition activists. It is indeed a shame that Zimbabwe for long has suffered from state sponsored violence at its sadistic height towards every election and as 2018 approaches. The ugly beast is again already in season.

Alfred Towo is a Zimbabwean freelance Journalist, an independent analyst, and opinion writer. Feedback on aliphytowo@gmail.com or on twitter @TowoAlfred

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MDC-T Youths Brutalise Fellow Party Member

Opposition MDC-T youths on Sunday brutalised a fellow party member for wearing a Zanu-PF T-Shirt at Gwenyambira shops in Mufakose.
Charles Muchemwa, who in 2008 contested the Mazowe South House of Assembly seat for the MDC-T, was beaten up by more than 10 party members, most of them youths, who were on their way to a rally in the same area.
According to NewZimbabwe , Muchemwa was wearing a t-shirt bearing the images of Zanu-PF Gokwe-Nembudziya law maker Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
He was beaten up while drinking beer at the shops.
Source - newzimbabwe

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Call for Membership

Umthunzi  Mumvuri Association has changed to Umthunzi Mumvuri Peace Initiative Trust in a bid to encompass more players from all around the globe.Those interested in joining the trust can contact us on:
www.facebook.com/umthunzi49
Twitter @umthunzi49

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A call for peaceful demonstations

UMA- Fellow countrymen let us take heed of the call for peaceful demonstrations. Let us emulate the ways of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and all those that advocate for peaceful resistance.Let us respect life, let us respect property and above all let us respect the rule of law lest we become one with that which we are fighting against!

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You are what it takes to reach a peaceful country we so desire

A Change Is Brought About Because Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things. Barack Obama

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Tragedy

There Is A Saying In Tibetan, 'tragedy Should Be Utilized As A Source Of Strength.'
No Matter What Sort Of Difficulties, How Painful Experience Is, If We Lose Our Hope, That's Our Real Disaster.
Dalai Lama Xiv

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UMA CONDEMNS STATEMENTS MADE BY HON KATSIRU

UMA CONDEMNS STATEMENTS MADE BY HON KATSIRU

When UMA and other CSOs are tirelessly working hard on reconciliation and feeling that something is taking shape, a legislator is quoted saying:

'Gukurahundi genocide can be resolved if Ndebeles pay for 19th Century'

Gukurahundi genocide can only be resolved if the Ndebele people first pay lobola and compensate Shonas for abducting and forcing into marriage young girls and raiding cattle from the same in the 19th century a Zanu-PF MP has said.According to NewZimbabwe.com, Marondera Central MP, Lawrence Katsiru, said this Wednesday while making his contributions to the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Bill parliamentary public meeting at Mbuya Nehanda Hall in the Mashonland East capital.
"I agree with the Bill for various reasons. Our sisters and cattle were taken in Mashonaland by the Ndebeles," said Katsiru before he was booed down by other participants.
"They (Ndebeles) should pay lobola for kidnapping and forcing our sisters into marriage. They should compensate for the cattle they stole from Mashonaland. I was in Bulawayo during the Entumbane uprisings in early 1970s (the distabances actually took place in the early 1980s) and I saw Shonas being murdered in the streets because they could not speak Ndebele. These people should be compensated; then we should consider paying for Gukurahundi."

The NPRC bill has been brought back for public hearings after it was rejected by the same public in 2015 as they raised complaints over how it gave the Executive much oversight role over the operations of the commission.

The statements by Katsiru are an indication that tribalism is rife in the country. The Shona feel justified for the holocaust of the 1980s though its only a few that feel the Ndebele deserved to be murdered that way. Restorative justice and litigation must be considered inorder to mend the rift between the Shona and Ndebele.

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Zimbabwe human rights report adopted in Geneva


Zimbabwe human rights report adopted in Geneva

UMA- The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHC) has adopted Zimbabwe's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report in Geneva, Switzerland.Zimbabwe's report highlights the country's human rights record and the measures taken by the government in protecting and promoting human rights.

During the review, Zimbabwe received 260 recommendations and supported 151 and deferred 100 for further consultation.

Speaking at the presentation and adoption of the report in Geneva, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affair, reaffirmed the country's commitment to strengthening its legal and policy framework as well as institutions responsible for monitoring the human rights situation.He expressed gratitude to the interventions that have been made by representatives of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and civil society operating within Zimbabwe, saying the partnership between government and these institutions will continue over the years as they implement the supported recommendations in Geneva

Vice President Mnangagwa however lamented the adverse effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon in the implementation of socio-economic rights, leaving the population vulnerable to famine and related challenges.

In an interview with the ZBC News after his presentation at the adoption of Zimbabwe's UPR report, ZHRC Chairperson, Mr Elasto Mugwadi and 16 other countries, among them Botswana, Venezuela, Belarus, Ghana and Cuba commended the government of Zimbabwe for its commitment to the improvement of the human rights terrain in the country.

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Change

If You Don't Like Something, Change It. If You Can't Change It, Change Your Attitude. Don't Complain. Maya Angelou

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Mphoko tables peace deal

Mphoko tables Peace Bill


UMA- Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who is also responsible for national healing, yesterday tabled the new National Peace and Reconciliation Bill in the National Assembly after it was withdrawn from Parliament last year.The Bill was withdrawn following its rejection by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and members of the public. The PLC had rejected the Bill, saying it undermined the independence of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission by conferring too much power on the parent ministry.

Following its tabling in the National Assembly yesterday, the Bill was immediately referred to the PLC.

In the new Bill, the minister will no longer demand reports from the Commission, with that responsibility now falling under Parliament. The Commission will also no longer need to get approval from the minister if they want to receive funds from other sources, but would just need to consult him or her.

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Quote of the day

The Smallest Minority On Earth Is The Individual. Those Who Deny Individual Rights Cannot Claim To Be Defenders Of Minorities.
Ayn Rand

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Eu slams CSOs' silence on Zim's imploding economy

Philip Van Damme

HARARE - The European Union (EU) has slammed civil society organisations (CSOs) for turning a blind eye on Zimbabwe’s imploding economy that is causing untold suffering of the masses.

The union’s envoy to Zimbabwe, Philippe Van Damme, pictured, said the CSOs were all buttoning their lips as they watch the country face a number of headwinds including a lack of investment flows, crippling cash shortages, a collapsing health sector and grinding poverty.

This comes at a time masses are increasingly getting hard-pressed and social problems are more acute than ever, with many getting poorer and more beleaguered.

Yet civil society’s outrage is muted.

“The voice of civil society organisations is weak,” Van Damme told civil society and the media at a discussion forum convened by Misa-Zimbabwe last weekend.

“Of course, people speak out notably on human rights issues, but on developmental issues, and on policy issues, your voice is hardly heard,” he said.

“I do not see much of the debate in the media on policy issues, but I see a lot of debate on factionalism and speculative politics. But on developmental issues such as how to address health issues and the sustainable development goals, I hardly see people putting substantial contributions.”

This comes after Zimbabwe’s projection of a higher economic growth of 3,7 percent this year, from an initial projection of 1,7 percent on the back of a better agriculture season, has been rubbished by a leading think-tank — NKC African Economics.

The Cape Town-based research firm said it still deems its projection for real GDP to contract by 1,7 percent this year, as appropriate at this stage.

This comes after Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa told military officers attending Joint Command and Staff Course Number 30 at Zimbabwe Staff College on Thursday in Harare, that the agricultural sector is set to perform strongly on the back of a projected three million tonne grain crop, the highest since 1984, according to official data.

Chinamasa’s optimistic revision is closer to the World Bank’s forecast of 3,8 percent.

“That said, in comparison to our own and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s projections, the government and the World Bank are especially optimistic,” NKC — a subsidiary of UK-based economic advisory firm Oxford Economics — said.

However, the civil society groups said they wanted to speak out more but were stifled by the repressive Public Order and Security Act (Posa), used to smother freedom of expression, association and movement by authorities. 

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PEACEBUILDING

UMA believes that for peacebuilding to be meaningful and successful it must be led by local people and it must target the most vulnerable and progress towards the strongheads. The peacebuilding process can be likened to lighting a fire where one must start by lighting grass and twigs, as the twigs burn they will in turn light logs and eventually giant logs. The local vulnerable villagers are the grass and twigs, if we absorb them on peacebuilding they will inturn absorb their village heads and eventually politicians and gradually our plights will reach parliament. This is the major reason why our work is mostly centered on rural communities that are vulnerable to violence and human rights abuse.

In the near future UMA hopes to cover the whole country in peacebuilding, doing a door to door capacity building in a drive to curb all forms of violence including domestic and gender based violence.

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Power of love

Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness: Only Light Can Do That. Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate: Only Love Can Do That. Martin Luther King Jr.

Quote of the day

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Title: People subjected to a living hell by a traditional leader!

UMA- People of Muriel Mine are crying foul over the interference of Chief Katizagombo in Muriel Mine Primary and Muriel Mine High School matters. During an SDC meeting held on the 6th of March 2017 at Muriel Mine High the chief pointed out that all fees defaulters will be dragged to his court where he charges $30 for an appearance despite being the defendant if they fail to pay at least $10 by the 20th of March 2017. He echoed the same sentiments during a meeting at Muriel Mine Primary on the 9th of March 2017. When the majority of Zimbabwean rural population is living in abject poverty, a traditional leader has a clean conscience charging such high court charges and making such threats to suffering people.

Muriel Mine is a gold mining community, the mine used to be owned by LONRHO before closure in the year 2000. The mine was reopened by Pan African Mining in 2001 and latter sold to Minister Gapare under the 49/51 indigenization policy. Since the coming of Gapare the mine employees have not known full pay and at times go for months without pay. Most residents in Muriel Mine are living on food aid from the Ministry of Welfare. It was a known tradition in mines that education was not regarded as important since all school leavers and drop outs would be employed in the mines. To a people that are just emerging from such an era of darkness where education was not regarded as important, making such threats and demands would impact heavily on the children. If too much pressure is exerted on these poor parents the only option left will be to drop their children off school, a scenario that would not be healthy. The surrounding farms are former white commercial farmers farms, people in these farms have been reduced to casual labourers who are seasonally employed at times for no pay. They have no option but to work even for nothing lest they risk being evicted from the only homes they have known for nearly two decades. Such farm people can only get money to pay for fees after harvests, stipulating an earlier payment date would just be inhuman to the poor parents.

"I will just take my children off school rather than getting summoned by the chief and get charged such large amounts when I'm struggling to even provide sadza for my family!" said a bitter parent who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.

The people of the area are living under a harsh traditional ruler who finds pleasure in threatening and siphoning money from people who live on less than a dollar per day. Such chiefs take advantage of the vulnerability and ignorance of many of the rural people. During our workshops in Mt Darwin and Muzarabani we enlightened such disadvantaged people of their rights as enshrined by the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Farmers used to enjoy farming in this fertile area but it is no longer the case since there is now too much interference from the chief. A tobacco farmer complained of being fined for reaping his tobacco on a Thursday which the chief declared a traditional day of rest (chisi). When the government is placing so much importance on agribusiness then where do such primitive laws emanate from? The chief is one of many chiefs that have been installed recently for political purposes and he takes pride in being partisan threatening anyone who supports opposition politics with eviction.

"Kurima kwacho kwakutonetsa nekuti mimwe mitemo yave kutibata yaifanirwa kunge ichibata vanhu vari kumaruzevha vasingatore kurima sebasa" ( Farming is becoming impossible due to some laws that are being introduced, such laws should apply to former reserves peasant subsistence farmers not us agribusiness people) complained another farmer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Such is the daily life of rural Zimbabweans, telling their stories is just a hope that one day they will find a hearing ear.

Tell us your stories and we will let the world hear your plights.

Get in touch with UMA on www.facebook.com/umthunzi49, www.twitter.com/umthunzi49 or umthunzi49.blogspot.com

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CORRUPTION AND PERSONALISATION OF FOOD AID

The issue of corruption is widespread in most rural areas where welfare officers responsible for food aid distribution are engaging in various forms of corruption. It is so disheartening to see these officers demanding various amounts of money ranging from US$2 to $6 from poor needy villagers who live on less than US$1 per day. Those that can not afford the amount are left to starve yet they are the rightful beneficiaries of the food aid program. Welfare officers are personalising food aid to an extent of deciding on who to receive aid who not to depending on their relationship with the person.
A villager who opted for anonymity reported that most of these welfare officers are relatives of councillors and village heads so they have a strong political as well as traditional backing, trying to expose them will be a waste of time. This has also been echoed by almost all beneficiaries from ward 30, Zvimba North, where the councillor has strong ties with all welfare officers; some being his concubines and some his political allies.

UMA is appealing to members of the public to report such cases to the police or to make a report via this platform or our Facebook page so that we make sure justice has been served!

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Zanu PF councillor order government distributed maize to be given to party members alone

Heal Zimbabwe Trust has reported that recently in Buhera West ward 10a councillor told the villagers that the food being distributed by government in the area would be given to Zanu PF members only.The trust said on February 23, Councillor Garikai Marova held a meeting at Chief Chimombe's residence and announced that the maize that he received from Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to distribute to community members was going to be distributed to Zanu PF supporters only.

"He also said that if opposition party supporters wanted to receive the maize, they should purchase Zanu PF membership cards that cost $3," said the trust."Councillor Marova also announced that all Village heads should compile names of all suspected opposition party members from their wards and submit to him."

 Efforts to get a comment from Councillor Seremwe were fruitless as his mobile phone was switched off.

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Zanu PF legislator threaten villagers with starvation if they do not vote his party in 2018

Mt Darwin West Legislator Banwell Seremwe has threatened villagers with starvation and violence if they do not vote for his party Zanu PF in the 2018 elections.The MP made the threats in Mt Darwin ward 36.

Heal Zimbabwe Trust reported that on the 28th of February 2017, Mt Darwin West Legislator, Banwell Seremwe threatened people in his constituency with violence and food aid withdrawal in case Zanu PF loses elections in 2018.

"At a meeting held at Dotito Rural Council, Seremwe said that if people vote for the opposition party, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) in the 2018 elections, they will be denied food aid," said the trust.

"He also threatened people with violence if they fail to vote for Zanu PF in the 2018 elections," said the trust.

Efforts to contact Hon Seremwe were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.

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