…as Svuure, Marapira clash over input distribution
… CCC distributes to own members

Brighton Chiseva

ZAKA – Zanu PF’ Zaka District Coordinating Committee (DCC) recently clashed with one of the district central committee member and deputy minister of agriculture Davies Marapira over presidential inputs distribution.
Most Zaka DCC members were complaining that the district’s Grain Marketing Board (GMB) management was overshadowing party officials when it comes to the distribution of inputs.
In a leaked WhatsApp conversation from Zaka DCC, the committee vice chairperson Davison Svuure who is reportedly going to lock horns in Zaka Central with Marapira in primary elections said while it was noble idea for government departments to do the distribution, they were supposed to do it in sync with Zanu PF leadership.
“My honest opinion on the inputs distribution issue is that, while the participating government department who are also the main players, GMB and Agritex, should be allowed to do their work, it is important to note that their work must also be coherent and be in sync with the aspirations of the party. What do we want to achieve as a party after government officials have done their work, is what should continuously ring in our minds.
“There are complaints coming from various wards where party leadership has been relegated to mere bystanders while the government officials with the powers so vested in them, wantonly distribute inputs in a manner which leaves the party exposed and I don’t read that as what Cabinet intended,” read the message sent by Svuure.
He went on to tell Marapira, who had promised to come on the ground, that apart from being on the ground he should also listen to reports presented to him by the party members.
“I recommend that, apart from observations from physical visits, let’s also take as equally important reports that come from the various wards, where none of us here is able to be, all the time.
“At the end of the day, we need to strike a delicate balance between allowing vashandi ve Hurumende (civil servants) kuti vaite basa ravo (to do their work) and on the other hand kuona (to see) its implications to the party, especially this season which precedes elections,” he added.
Svuure went on to say Zanu PF was facing a big threat from Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in the district whose party members were countering Zanu PF and distributing maize seed to people.
“Only yesterday there was a group of CCC people in full yellow and in broad day light, were teasing Zanu PF members, including the District chair kuti ‘rwendo runo makaura ,muchawana mbeu kana isu tadzokorora’. I’m aware a report on this has been taken to the relevant party structures. I did receive it. They were boasting because in this particular ward, all known CCC members were given inputs ahead of party (Zanu PF) members, even ahead of the district chair! Chairman havana kuwana ma inputs as I speak…is this what we want? The answer is NO,” he wrote.
DCC women’s league chairperson Florence Mukau chipped in, in support of Svuure saying CCC was making inroads and distributing goodies in various wards of the district.
In his response Marapira said no matter what the concerns were, nothing was going to change in as far as the distribution of inputs is concerned and strongly warned members to respect the circular on inputs distribution.
“Let me kindly warn this group, nothing will change as far as the Presidential input scheme is concerned. We all have to support our government. I personally know what was happening especially at GMB Zaka. Anyone who wants more information, come to my inbox.
“Party leaders let’s not produce our own list of organizations and take them to GMB. Such lists should be taken directly to the Minister of Lands Agriculture Fisheries Water and Rural Development for approval. We should not confuse the distribution modalities set by my ministry. All lists taken to GMB will not be processed unless if they follow the normal channel,” wrote Marapira.
DCC chairperson who is the deputy minister of finance and Zaka East MP Clemence Chiduwa said reducing input quantities during run up to elections was going to affect the party.
“Minister, you are doing your work but coming up with climatic regions in Zaka and reducing quantities towards elections is to counter what we want as a party. For me, I have said what is supposed to be done. We seem to be all wrong except GMB and Hon Marapira. The genuine issues we raise will be misconstrued to appear like it’s personal. What is currently happening is only obtaining in Zaka. As DCC chairpersons, we share information and it’s sad we act like Pfumvudza programme started yesterday. A full DCC meeting is required so that we get political direction on what is happening. We also need to, communicate the correct message to our structures.
“Hon Marapira favors your district by giving them more inputs and having timely disbursements instead of weather zones related downsizing of quantities towards elections. Hakuna ari kutaura nezve ZANU PF pambeu (No one is talking about Zanu PF during seed distribution). Is GMB a Non-Governmental Organization? Is it illegal kutaura kuti mbeu yakabva kwa president (to say the inputs are coming from the President). Why do we want to show that in ward 22 of Zaka West CCC is giving 5 kg but ZANU PF is giving 2 kg. This is happening this year because of what. Hon Mavhenyengwa, this is your district. Let’s benefit from our children who have been appointed to higher positions,” said Chiduwa.
Another group participant and provincial member Wellington Chakona said the civil servants in charge of distribution were a nuisance and suggested that all extension workers be transferred as they were all sympathetic to CCC.
“Honourable I suggest kuti madhumeni edu ese emu Zaka vangomuka vabviswa muma ward mavari uri muward 19 unomuka ave KwaMushaya uko waramba zvavharana ngava change mawards kunyanya vemu ward 19 just transfer madhumeni iwayo to other wards hazvina noise ivo voga vachaziva kuti chiii, (Honourable I suggest that all extension workers be transferred for they are sympathetic to CCC. All who do not want transfer should just be relieved of their duties)” said Chakona.
However, the matter was put to rest after Marapira sensed the gravity of the discussions and went on to ask if the group was water tight but other members including Aleta Makomeke said the group wasn’t and it was not surprising to see the chats elsewhere.

TellZim Reporter

In yet another acrimonious boundary tussle, Chief Murinye, born Ephias Munodawafa has been dragged to court by a Mugabe clansman over a land dispute involving a piece of land the former is allegedly preparing for “zunde ramambo” community farming activities.
The piece of land in question, which Moses Mugabe, the applicant in the court case is claiming to be his father’s is in Village 33B, Chief Mugabe, Masvingo.
In his application, Mugabe claims that he had been farming on the said piece of land after his father, Kudakwashe Mugabe’s demise in 2014 until recently when Chief Murinye started the zunde activities on the land.
“I have been farming on said piece of land undisturbed until this farming season when the defendant started his activities.
“The respondent has infringed on my property rights in that he is making farming activities on my land under the guise that he is farming for the community under the Zunde initiative,” read part of the applying affidavit.
Mugabe further says the field in question was still registered in his father’s name and he intends to register in his name as required by law, adding that he possesses a householder/occupier’s certificate.
“I have approached other responsible authorities like the village head who referred me to this Honorable Court. I also sought help from the Rural District Council but I did not get the assistance I needed.
“The respondent is currently preparing the land for him to cultivate crops. As of the 14th of November 202, there were people preparing the land under his instruction,” further reads the application.
Contacted for comment, Chief Murinye said he could not speak on a case that is before the courts until it has been finalized.
“I am a lawyer and that case is before the courts so I cannot comment on it as it is sub judice,” Chief Murinye said.
Mugabe is claiming that Chief Murinye is only claiming the piece of land to settle a vendetta he had with the former’s late father, which involved the Murinye chieftaincy.
He also said the chief is saying the land has been a grazing area for years and was not being utilized for farming activities until this year when it is being used for the zunde ramambo community activities.
The two will be back in court on December 14 after the initial appearance on November 25.
This is not the first time Mugabe clansmen have been involved in land disputes following government orders for their kinsmen settled in Zero Farm near Great Zimbabwe Monuments to vacate the area, an order which was later revoked after they threatened to occupy the monuments if they had been displaced.

…says he is ashamed to be part of his executive

Brighton Chiseva

Former Harare Mayor and MDC Vice President Engineer Elias Mudzuri seems to be considering dumping MDC-Alliance after he indicated that he will not be contesting for any post at the upcoming congress citing irregularities in the electoral processes.
The elective congress is slated for December 18 this year with the party President Douglas Mwonzora seeking re-election.
In a leaked WhatsApp conversation, Mudzuri said he does not agree with the whole process and will only consider contesting if the process becomes transparent.
“Thank you to all members of the MDC family who have expressed their wish that I stand for re-election as second Vice President of the party at the coming 5th congress. Please take note that I will not submit myself for that election for any position. I will however remain a committed card carrying member of the party”
“I am not in agreement with the process so I stand conflicted to vie for any position until and unless the process becomes transparent and democratic including knowledge of the colligate from ward to province,” said Mudzuri.
Contacted for comment, Mudzuri confirmed the development saying he will not contest at congress owing to failure by the party to follow proper procedures where nominations would start from grassroots.
He said the consultations should start at cell up to provincial level where contestants will be nominated.
“I cannot be nominated by the elite members of the party, nominations should start at grassroots level. We are 22 years as a party and that is what we have been doing all along. I cannot be nominated by my friends, that is not what we do as a party,” said Mudzuri.
On whether he will remain a member of the MDC-T Mudzuri, who hails from Zaka, said he was not after positions in the party so he will remain a card carrying and loyal member of the party.
“I am ashamed of what is happening right now but I cannot run away from party, I have talked to them and I will continue to talk to them but if they don’t listen, I will remain a card carrying member as I cannot be part of the leadership which fails to observe the democratic tenets of the party.
“I can be nominated for any positions in the party and have at some point assumed the leadership of the party as you know when Mr (Morgan) Tsvangirai died, he left me in charge of the party,” said Mudzuri.
Contacted for comment, party secretary for communications Witness Dube said Mudzuri could not claim to have withdrawn from the race as he is a candidate yet considering that the candidate has not yet been vetted and approved.
“He was nominated for the post of vice president but his nomination is yet to go through vetting by relevant authorities to see if he meets the threshold. So as it stands, he cannot claim to have withdrawn because there is nothing to withdraw from. He is yet to be a candidate,” said Dube.
Dube went on to say preparations for the congress were going on smoothly and it will go ahead as planned and relevant authorities are finalizing the candidates’ selection issue.
Reports have surfaced in various media circles that Morgan Komichi is set to wrestle the presidency from incumbent Mwonzora at the congress.

…Says law will deal with perpetrators

Courage Dutiro

Following reports of fierce political violence that rocked Gutu district last week, Masvingo Zanu PF provincial leadership has distanced the party from the violence and disowned perpetrators allegedly involved in the act.
In a press statement released by the party’s provincial information department, the Gutu political violence perpetrators are Zanu PF imposters that assumed false identity to tarnish the image of the party.
” As Zanu PF Masvingo provincial leadership and loyal party cadres we disassociate ourselves from the hoodlums and criminals who should face the full wrath of the law.
“We do not have such members within our card-holding loyal membership. These, if at all they purport to be of Zanu PF DNA, are impostors who seek to infiltrate our ranks to cause anarchy,” read part of the statement.
The Zanu PF Masvingo provincial leadership said they are not aligned to the perpetrators
“We are not in any way aligned to or in league with the alleged perpetrators of violence,” read part of the statement.
Zimbabwe is just a few months from its 2023 harmonized elections.
Gutu Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) cluster champion Lloyd Mupfudze said Zanu PF is only trying to hide behind the finger as the political violence perpetrators are popular Zanu PF members.
“They are well known Zanu PF members and they are party leadership position holders,” said Mupfudze.
A number of political violence cases where Zanu PF is being accused as the perpetrator by opposition political parties have been so far recorded in Gutu some few weeks ago.