…As Zanu PF enters campaign trail
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is facing a difficult time holding rallies and private meetings as the police often pounce on and arrest its members ahead of the 2023 general elections. Contrarily, Zanu PF is allowed by the same police to hold meetings and rallies freely across the country, a development that has raised suspicion that the ruling party might be working in cahoots with the police to block CCC from campaigning.
Zanu PF is already in a full swing campaign with its District Coordinating Committees (DCCs) across the country holding campaign rallies freely without any hindrance from the police, whilst CCC members are blocked by the same police.
Since last year, over 100 opposition supporters, including three Members of Parliament (MPs) have been arrested and some are still languishing in remand prison as they are denied bail, for various trumped up charges.
Political analysts claimed that the ruling party is bedding the police and the judiciary system which compromises the two institutions from professionally executing their duties.
Youth Decide Director Learnmore Munhangu said the political freedom remained under threat in Zimbabwe saying suppression of competitors by the ruling party was not good for a country.
“It seems as if the State is forgetting the founding values of this country as depicted by Section 3(2) of the constitution. We are a multi-party democratic society and we are supposed to conduct free, fair and regular elections,” said Munhangu.
“Political freedoms are under threat in the modern-day Zimbabwe as political parties are being banned from holding both private and public meetings whilst the ruling party had been on campaign mode since day one after 2018 general elections,” Munhangu added.
Political commentator Dr Gift Gwindingwe said the current prevailing political environment can breed political violence. He said there is need for dialogue to lay down procedures for peace ahead of the elections.
“There is a possibility for violence if political parties are not put to check, there is need to sit down and roadmap what should be followed by all political parties and I think this is the right time that all political parties come together and map the road to be followed in holding campaigns for this coming election so that all parties can hold their rallies peacefully,” said Dr Gwindingwe
A number of aspiring candidates in Masvingo Province are already positioning themselves for the day, doing campaigning meetings and programs unhindered though the opposition mainly Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member are being arrested even for holding meeting in their private homes.
However, because of this situation, CCC members seem not to be doing anything to campaign and some members are even thinking that they have no strategy. Zanu PF new faces that are making inroads campaigns in the province include ward six Masvingo Urban Councilor and Masvingo City Council Deputy Mayor Wellington Mahwende who is eyeing the Masvingo Urban seat.
Mahwende pulled a shocker in 2018 when he snatched the seat from then MDC-T party. Mahwende is likely to battle it out in Zanu PF primaries with James Pande who has also declared interest.
In Masvingo North, a number of candidates have since lined up and doing a number of meetings and programmes.
Amongst Zanu PF aspirants in Masvingo North are Brian Mudhumi, who seems to have the incumbent Davis Marapira’s blessing, Petros Mutema and Pascal Mudzikisi.
In Zaka Central, Davis Marapira who transferred to Zaka from Masvingo is campaigning everyday gathering people for donating stationery to schools, among other things without any hindrance.
In Chiredzi battle lines have been drawn in Chiredzi West where former Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson Francis Moyo and the incumbent Farai Musikavanhu have already entered campaign trail.
The latest developments in the persecution of main opposition CCC members have seen the arrest of Masvingo Urban ward 7 councilor Richard Musekiwa for holding a meeting at his home and he has since appeared in court for the charges.
In January 2023, 26 CCC members including two sitting MPs were arrested in Budiriro where they were having a meeting on allegations that they wanted to disturb public peace.
Munhangu said as youths they were concerned about arrests of opposition party activists saying they needed a peaceful environment for a credible election with all parties given access to the electorate as well as access to the media.
“As young people, we are so concerned by the level of suppression which is slowly taking our nation into serious authoritarian rule. Continuous use of State Security and draconian laws to arrest and block members of the opposition parties to freely campaign is regrettable.”
“Neither legitimate power can be achieved through suppression of the competitors nor credible elections. We need a peaceful and free environment as we approach general elections; a situation whereby every party has access to the both the rural and urban electorate, and access to private and State media,” said Munhangu.
