Source: ‘Malpractices soil Mwenezi election campaign’ – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 23 March 2017
HARARE – The Mwenezi East by-election has been blighted by accusations of
politicisation of food aid, abrogation of the right to freedom of assembly
and intimidation and harassment, a rights group has said.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said it was worried by the unfolding
events in Mwenezi East as the electorate is failing to exercise its
political rights in a conducive environment.
The Nomination Court which sat at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Courts on
February 17 accepted four candidates for the by-election: Joosby Omar of
the ruling Zanu PF, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Zimbabwe People First), Welcome
Masuku of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) as well as Turner
Mhango of the Free Zimbabwe Congress.
The National Assembly constituency seat fell vacant following the death of
the incumbent Zanu PF MP Joshua Moyo on December 22 last year.
ZPP warned that the credibility of the by-election faces scrutiny after a
number of material human rights violations were recorded in the area.
On March 17 at a Zanu PF campaign rally at Masweswe Secondary School in
ward 13, Zanu PF candidate Omar distributed 1,5kgs of rice each – obtained
from the Grain Marketing Depot in Rutenga – to everyone who attended the
rally, regardless of political affiliation.
But after the donations on March 18, the village head for village 4, one
Mutsikwa, convened a meeting questioning why those who do not support the
ruling party had accepted and benefited from Omars’ rice donations.
“The village head said those who do not have Zanu PF cards would not
benefit from the cooking oil donations which, according to the village
head, are expected on the 25th of March,” ZPP said.
“He added that those without Zanu PF membership cards must not bother to
come for cooking oil.”
At Rutenga Grain Marketing Board, the ZPP team saw trucks emblazoned with
President Robert Mugabe and Omar posters with inscriptions written, “Zanu
PF on Duty” loading sacks of rice and fertilisers to unknown destinations.
Bhasikiti’s ZPF rally which was said to have been initially authorised by
the Masvingo Dispol (officer commanding district) was disrupted at the
last minute by anti-riot police at Rutenga Shopping Centre, ZPP said.
“The Dispol changed his mind as the rally was about to start saying he had
received orders from the top to stop the rally,” the report said.
“Those who turned up for the intended ZPF rally were allegedly followed to
their homes by the Zanu PF district committee members and ordered to stop
supporting opposition political parties.”
The faith-based rights group also noted that Mhango also suffered serious
intimidation by local Zanu PF supporters.
“Police asked him whether his rallies were important to the people of
Mwenezi before barring the rally,” ZPP said.
Opposition campaign material has been torn. Most torn posters are those of
Bhasikiti and NCA’s Masuku.
Mhango’s posters are nowhere to be seen in Rutenga and surrounding areas,
ZPP noted.
“Zanu PF youths stand accused of tearing opposition posters or
intimidating those putting up the posters,” the rights group said.
“Drivers of buses say they cannot put posters of opposition parties as
this can result in them being victimised by police or rank marshals.”
Meanwhile, Bhasikiti is reported to have threatened to withdraw from the
elections if his supporters continue to be harassed.
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