He gathered villagers at Nhowe Business Centre under the pretext of distributing agriculture inputs, and announced that Marko Gwatidzo and Peter Tembedza were removed from their traditional posts “for reasons best known by higher offices”. They have not been replaced.
Villagers interviewed by The Zimbabwean wondered how they would pay taxes, receive food hand outs and agriculture inputs without village leadership. Both men were victims of political violence ever since MDC was formed in 1999. Marondera District Administrator, James Chiwaru, professed ignorance about the dismissals and promised to investigate. MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, described the development as an ongoing Zanu (PF) purge against suspected MDC supporters. He called on government and the police to stop the purge as Zimbabwe was not a one party state.
In October last year, Chief Sinamagonde of Binga fired 15 village heads in his area for allegedly supporting MDC-T.