The Zimbabwean was told last week that Zanu (PF) thugs led by village party chairperson, Stanford Mudzingidze, ward 22 councillor, Huni Mutizwa, village party organiser for gender issues, Faith Ngoma and notorious war veteran, Antony Jera of Gomo Village, barred a hired tractor from tilling fields belonging to suspected MDC supporters.
MDC activist, Munamwe Munamwe, hired a tractor from a neighbouring village to prepare his fields as the area had experienced early rains. When the tractor driver arrived at Munamwes plot, he was ordered not to work fields belonging to MDC supporters as land and farming equipment in farming areas was a preserve of Zanu (PF). The driver was warned he risked his life if he went ahead with the ploughing as Zanu (PF) militia would not hesitate to take instant disciplinary action against whoever dared assist MDC. Tsvangirais followers were also ordered not to grow any crops as they may not be around at harvest time, said a highly placed source at Zanu (PF) provincial headquarters.
Villagers said MDC supporters were also barred from attending church services together with Zanu (PF) followers.
MDC activists at village 17 have been subjected to various types of victimisation at the hands of Zanu (PF) since the June 2008 presidential elections re-run. Their houses were torched; property and livestock looted and many were physically attacked. Some victims are still missing.
Late last month Red Cross officials visited the village to assess damage inflicted on political victims during Copac outreach meetings. They found houses belonging to MDC supporters destroyed and were told Zanu (PF) thugs helped themselves to property owned by MDC activists.
Last week Monday, Red Cross distributed mealie-meal, cooking oil, blankets and food rations to victims of terror at the village. This attracted the wrath of Zanu (PF) officials who wanted MDC supporters to be exposed to economic hardships. Disturbed members of Red Cross reportedly raised the alarm alerting JOMIC about the need for intervention in the village after perpetual harassment of MDC supporters by Mugabes followers. JOMIC officials, Red Cross and various stakeholders will descend on the village today, Thursday, to meet villagers from across the political divide and try to find lasting solutions to the prevailing political intolerance, said a Mashonaland East JOMIC member.
As if destruction of houses and other property was not retributive enough, notorious Zanu (PF) officials in the area, reportedly with the blessing of the district administrator and Chief Svosve, annexed fields belonging to suspected MDC supporters and distributed them to party youths as advance reward for planned terror against MDC in the run up to 2011 elections. The communal land seizures left villagers with no grazing fields for livestock.
Post published in: News