…Zanu PF lawlessness will not stop change: Mahere
…School teachers threatened
Emmanuel Chitsika
Masvingo-Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has vowed not to be perturbed by alleged Zanu PF antics of unleashing terror and violence on citizens saying whatever amount of panic the latter exhibits would not deter them from pursuing change.
Speaking to TellZim News spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said while the party (CCC) condemns the acts of violence in Masvingo’s Gutu district, the party will remain focused on their goal to win 2023 elections.
“No amount of panic and lawlessness by Zanu PF will get in the way of political change whose time has come. We condemn the escalation of political violence in Gutu that is being perpetrated by Zanu PF.
“We remain focused on our task of registering citizens to vote in their millions so we win big in 2023. We have assembled peace and security teams to protect our members. Gutu and neighbouring communities remain defiant and are ready to do whatever it takes to win Zimbabwe for change,” said Mahere.
The response by CCC follows reports surfacing in Gutu that Zanu PF has unleashed a reign of terror in Gutu North and Central constituencies targeting people perceived to be opposition party supporters.
Reports from sources privy to the developments in the district said teachers at Machingambi Secondary School were on November 22, 2022 also subjected to alleged victimization at the hands of Zanu PF’s Gutu District Coordinating Committee (DCC) vice chairperson identified as Musara after participating in a data collection exercise on behalf of Australia-based academic Professor Felix Mavhondo.
The source said Musara allegedly accused teachers at the school of working for opposition political parties after establishing that Prof Mavhondo had tasked them to collect data on his project in form of questionnaires.
The head of the school identified as Innocent Muchingani was also reported to have been summoned to Gutu district education offices on November 23 and details of the reason why he was summoned are yet to be established.
“What happened is that teachers at Machingambi Secondary participated in data collection in form of questionnaires on behalf of an Australian-based Professor (Mavhondo) and thus were labelled as opposition political party supporters.
“The accusation is despite the fact that the participation of the teachers was authorized and above board. Right now as we speak the school head has been summoned (November 23) to the district education offices over the issue. The vice DCC came to the school and detained teachers for a very long period of time over the matter accusing them of sympathizing with opposition political parties,” said the source.
CCC Acting Masvingo provincial chairperson Misheck Marava confirmed receiving reports of violence against party followers.
He went on to say violence against CCC supporters has not been restricted to Gutu alone in Masvingo as he said some unofficial reports suggest that the violence net is wide spread but emphasized on the need for political parties to maintain peace ahead of 2023.
“As a party, we don’t condone violence and strongly condemn it. We believe in peaceful elections where candidates from all recognized political parties participate on equal basis.
“Our wish would be the presentation of a level playing field where politicians participate in elections on an equal basis so that winners reflect the will of the people and not vice versa” he said.
Reports of violence have been prevalent in Gutu with reports being made to the police whose hand seem to be tied up in terms of the reaction to such reports.
On September 24, 2022 Gutu ward 33 councillor Bernard Chimwango was physically assaulted and the matter was reported before on November 3, there were reports of two truckloads of Zanu PF youth having made rounds at the growth point while uttering threats.
On the above-mentioned date as well the same trucks are alleged to have proceeded to Chisheshe where the youth did a toy toy around a business person linked to CCC party Raphel Mudoro’s premise.
Cases of intra and inter-party political violence have been a common feature on the Zimbabwean landscape especially during elections leading to some outsiders discrediting the polls as not free and unfair.
During the run up to March 26, 2022 by-elections CCC supporters were attacked at a rally in Kwekwe leading to the death of Mboneni Ncube after being stabbed with a spear while the Gokwe-Kabuyuni by-elections held on August 27 saw CCC leader’s convoy under attack allegedly by senior Zanu PF officials with Local government minister July Moyo allegedly involved.
The Kwekwe incident followed declaration by vice president Contantino Chiwenga that Zanu PF would crash CCC like lice.
Political analysts also warned the nation to brace for a likely bloody 2023.
The violence is also coupled by abuse of State apparatus like police, army and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).