We were ordered to sign the anti-sanctions petition on behalf of our relatives including those who died long back. Zanu (PF) officials said all that mattered was the national registration number to appear against the signature, said a villager at Nhekayiro Business Centre.
At Nhowe Business Centre, Chief Svosve area, Zanu (PF) Marondera East District Chairperson, Sheppard Zenda, last Tuesday threatened villagers with violence if they did not support the anti-sanctions cause. Disgruntled villagers said since they were brutalized by Zanu (PF) and denied access to donor food items and farm inputs by Zenda, it was reason enough not to support the project. Those too old to walk the distance to designated petition signing centres had to give their identification particulars to Zanu (PF) militia, who would append signatures on their behalf.
Villagers from surrounding resettlement areas were forced to converge at Two Boy Shopping Centre Wednesday and made to sign the petition. Resettled A2 farmers were ordered to transport their workers if they had any, to designated petition signing points. They would call out registers of their workers as they come forward to sign the petition with Zanu (PF) officials monitoring the exercise.
Last Wednesday in Murewa North, Zanu (PF) distributed petition papers to school authorities for teachers to sign. Teachers said they would reluctantly append their signatures under duress, as they felt the targeted sanctions were justified given Mugabes violation of human rights. MDC-T losing Parliamentary Candidate for Murewa North, Golden Mutize, said right-thinking people would not sign the fake petition.
I will not be part of the so called anti-sanctions crusade as Zanu (PF) continued violating peoples rights. As I speak, MDC-T Mashonaland East Provincial Secretary for Information and Publicity, Silas Gweshe, is in company of five party activists who were abducted by pro-Zanu (PF) thugs in Mtoko a few days ago. So, the anti-sanctions campaign remains a farce, said Mutize.
MDC-T Murewa North District Youth Chairperson, Brighton Takavadiyi said. The so called anti-sanctions petition is not worth anyones attention. Villagers across the province said they would sign the petition against their will, as they continued to be victimised by Zanu (PF) militia.
Post published in: News