MURAMBINDA Zanu (PF) has enlisted soldiers, youth militia and war veterans, who spearheaded the partys ruthless campaign in the June 2008 polls, to cow villagers into supporting it as electioneering continues.
Party heavyweights, including William Mutomba and Joseph Chinotimba, are reportedly masterminding the meetings.
Pishai Muchauraya, MDC-Ts spokesperson for Manicaland, confirmed that Zanu (PF) was force-marching villagers to political meetings where they are being told to vote for Zanu (PF) in forthcoming elections against their wish.
Zanu (PF) has roped in traditional leaders, youth militia and soldiers to intimidate or beat up those who try to resist attending the meetings. People are being forced to attend rallies where they are being told not to repeat what they did in 2008 where they voted for the MDC, said Shadreck Motsi, an MDC-T official.
He said traditional leaders were calling the meetings where those perceived to be MDC-T supporters are being harassed and blacklisted. Muchauraya said his party has compiled a list of names of soldiers, war veterans and youth militia who are driving people out of their homes.
Chief Nyashanu, a known Zanu (PF) supporter, is reportedly threatening to eject people from his area if they continue supporting the MDC-T. The involvement of traditional leaders, soldiers, militia and war veterans during the run-up to the envisaged elections is an attempt to instil fear in the hearts of the people so that they vote for Zanu (PF), Muchauraya said.
They are telling people that if they fail to support Zanu (PF) they will be killed like what happened to others in June 2008, added Amos Mazanga MDC-T Buhera district youth coordinator. Mazanga said the latest reports of intimidation, especially in rural Buhera, have heightened fears that the villagers will once again be denied the opportunity to freely determine their future.
Last week, Zanu (PF) militia and soldiers force-marched villagers to a campaign meeting held at Marenga Business centre, a notorious torture base for Zanu (PF). They were telling us to vote for Zanu (PF). We were warned and threatened with death if Zanu (PF) loses again, said a villager who attended the meeting.
The previous week, another political meeting was held at Gaza centre where the villagers were also instructed to support Zanu (PF).
Post published in: News