The lack of meaningful development in the area has resulted in locals charging that the Zanu (PF)-led government has deliberately withheld development as punishment for their political affiliations.
Since independence in 1980, Chipinge has had representatives in Parliament from parties opposed to Zanu (PF). From independence to the inception of the MDC in 2000, Ndabaningi Sithole’s Zanu (Ndonga) and Edgar Tekere’s Zimbabwe Unity Movement regularly prevailed during elections in this Ndau-dominated area.
Since the demise of both ZUM and Ndonga, the MDC has continued to dominate the area. An MDC councillor in Ngaone area, Mwarekesa Mhlanga, said he agreed with the common view of the Ndau people that they were being taught a lesson for supporting opposition parties.
“The previous government sought to frogmarch the people of this region into join Zanu (PF) through under developing this area,” said Mhlanga.
Senior Zanu (PF) officials in the area, such as Enoch Porusingaziwi, have been accused of threatening the people with under-development if they voted for the opposition.
Most parents who spoke to The Zimbabwean said their children were forced to start school when they were older – in order for them to be able to walk the long distances to the few schools in the area.
Some students are reported to be squatting near schools to avoid walking the tiresome distances every day.
“In my ward children walk for 20 kilometres to secondary schools. Most children have dropped out of school because of the long distances,” said Majuru Mukomwe, a headman in Chichichi area.
The lack of hospitals in the area has forced many villagers to turn to traditional healers and prophets. Traditional midwives also enjoy brisk business, but complicated births have resulted in the deaths of many children and mothers.
Most growth points in the area have only general dealers and bottle stores.
“The only source of employment here were seasonal jobs at farms. But following the acquisition of the farms by mainly Zanu (PF) chefs that employment is gone. Those who have remained on the farms are being given only slave wages .Our youths have turned to stealing and prostitution to make a living. In these times of Aids we all know what will happen to our daughters,” said a distraught headmaster in Chipinge south, who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.
Post published in: News