via Kidnappings surge ahead of poll | The Herald 12 August 2014
Zanu-PF Secretary for Women’s Affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri yesterday said there were reports of more kidnappings and intimidation ahead of the party’s 6th Women’s League conference which begins in Harare on Thursday as she warned those behind the shenanigans that women would protect the integrity of their conference.
Cde Muchinguri made the revelations while addressing a Press conference at the party’s headquarters in the wake of the shambolic National Youth Conference that was marred by allegations of vote buying and manipulation.
“In some cases, the League has received reports which border on criminal conduct where its members have been kidnapped or sequestered against their will and without the knowledge of their families who do not know the whereabouts of their loved ones,” she said.
“These reports are very worrying and they must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“The League wants to make it very clear and put it on record that any of its members who are kidnapped or sequestered ahead of the conference will be deregistered and will thus not be allowed to participate in the conference without fear or favour to enforce discipline as well as to protect and ensure the integrity of the conference.
“For the same reasons, the League calls on law enforcement authorities to take the kidnapping reports seriously and let the law take its course against the culprits regardless of their standing or station in the party or society.”
Cde Muchinguri said they had received reports of such kidnappings from Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, and Masvingo, but could not divulge the identity of those responsible and reported to the police.
Last week, National Assembly Member for Gokwe-Gumunyu Cde Melania Majovani reported Minister of State in the President’s Office Cde Flora Buka to the police for allegedly abducting and holding members of the wing hostage to force them to vote for her.
She eventually lost to Cde Majovani in the Gokwe contest.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba could, as has become the norm, not be reached for comment yesterday.
Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said in a statement yesterday that all the 10 provincial chairladies of the Women’s League should attend an urgent meeting scheduled for tomorrow by the party’s National Elections Directorate.
The meeting is meant to finalise preparations for the conference.
The Women’s League completed its elections to fill its slots in the Central Committee in all the provinces last week.
The elections were full of drama, as allegations of voting impropriety were raised by some losing candidates in some provinces, while the process was smooth in other areas.
In Manicaland province, Mutare South MP Cde Nyasha Chikwinya got the highest votes, while the others elected were Cdes Agatha Mugomba-Muparutsa, Jane Mabuto-Knight and Alice Mutindori.
But national Women’s League secretary for information and publicity Cde Monica Mutsvangwa lodged a complaint to the provincial executive after she lost, accusing main wing members Cdes Didymus Mutasa, Munacho Mutezo, Enock Porusingazi, Esau Mupfumi, Fred Kanzama, Nyasha Chikwinya and Cde Mvundura of interference.
In Harare province, Cdes Albertina Bwititi and Eva Chanetsa won the right to lead portfolios, while their deputies would be Cdes Agnes Musarurwa and Mary Chakanyuka-Chatibura.
Cdes Irene Mutubwa, Elizabeth Shongedza, Maude Chigwada and Dorothy Kadungure made it in Mashonaland Central.
Those successful in Mashonaland East were Cdes Olivia Muchena, Marbel Nkatazo, Phoebe Bharata and Catherine Tapera.
In Mashonaland West, former provincial Women’s League chairlady Cde Sarah Mahoka and Cdes Jennifer Mhlanga, Hilda Bhobho and Catherine Mugabe were elected.
In Masvingo, the four elected were Cdes Shuvai Mahofa, Angeline Chipato, Namatirai Chivhanga and Algina Samson Mhlanga.
In the Midlands, Cdes Elisina Nhari, Christina Mayer, Mercy Ncube Mashunye and Florence Khumalo made it.
Bulawayo would be represented by Cdes Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, Judith Ncube, Esnath Moyo and Rosie Phiri, while Matabeleland South would be represented by Cdes Eveline Mpofu, Nkosinomusa Langa, Lesly Ncube and Fuluselo Muleya.
In Matabeleland North Cde Donnie Sibanda, Cde Thokozile Mathuthu, Cde Musa Ncube and Cde Veronica Munkuni won.
COMMENTS
Dai matouratana zvenyu. isu takatarisa!
Good. Let dog eat dog. Zpf doggers
These tactics have always ‘worked’ for ZANU PF. Now talk about getting a dose of your own medicine!
This goes on to show to how barbaric Zanu PF is as a party. Surely this is 2014 and these underhand tactics will not help anything, the rest of the world has moved on.
Muchinguri may want to hold a press conference and try to act smart but the whole lot is tarnished by these kidnappings. They have no place in modern politics whatever price is at stake.
This is reason why these people have taken Zimbabwe back to the stone ages because they themselves have nothing in their brains and cannot think constructively and this includes their so called leader Mugabe who endorses these kind of activities.
Until Zimbabweans gets rid of these people from the power corridors, it will remain in the doldrums and that’s unfortunate for a country with so much potential and yet led by people who drive using the rear view mirror as a guide. Enough.
@wensil, imagine if they can do this to their own supporters, what more supporters of other parties. These people only belong to one place – prison.
It would be good if they started shooting each other
mabvumaka kuti muno itazvisakarurama pakurarama kwenyu vote buying, kidneping and threating y all this iwe uchidiwa nepovho?
kidnapping isnt enough .Start shoving each other down some disused mine shafts. Or hetter still dissolve each other in acid . Afterall you are the architects of torture Disappear completely and keep hunting each other down like dogs till none of you remains .
You cave people
Daddypus always in the forefront of intrigue
I wonder where Muchinguri was when members of the opposition political parties were kidnapped, tortured and sometimes killed in the run up to elections over the decades of Zanu p.f. rule. I wonder if she has any comment on Gukurahundi.
What is new here? This is their elections modus operandi within and without their gukurahundi ZANU PF party. Unleashing gukurahundism during an election is a winning formula for these people – nothing else works for them.