A mini survey done by The Zimbabwean revealed that the families of victims of political violence are struggling to feed themselves and suffer limited access to social services. Many widows said life had become unbearably hard for them, and accused the party of “dumping” them following the death of their bread winners.
Rugare Mafundikwa (35), the widow of Itai Manyeruke, said she was struggling to raise her family as the party has not given her any support.
Manyeruke was abducted in Highfield during the Save Zimbabwe Campaign prayer rally on March 11, 2007 and severely beaten by the police. He died the next day. The disturbances also claimed the life of Gift Tandare, another MDC activist.
“Right now, my two children are not going to school because I am failing to raise money for their school fees. The last one, aged 13, was supposed to write grade 7 exams this year but failed because he had spent the whole of last year in the rural areas and was not going to school,” said Mafundikwa, who works as a vendor.
She said efforts to present her plight to the Prime Minister and MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, had hit a brick wall.
“We have tried to present our plight to the party but every time we go to Harvest House, they tell us that our matter is being looked into. And when we request to see the PM we are told that he is busy,” she said.
The MDC-T spokesperson for Harare Province, Obert Gutu, denied his party had abandoned widows of slain activists.
“At national level, we have the Department of Social Welfare and every province of the party has a Secretary for Social Welfare. If the truth be said, food hampers and money for rentals are regularly given out to all affected families in Harare. I urge all those who might want further information about the Harare Province Social Welfare issues to liaise with me so that I can help them,” said Gutu.
Prisca Dausi (25) said since the death of her husband Christopher Mashizha she had not received any help from the party. Mashizha was abducted in June 2008 at Harvest House and, since then, his body has not been recovered. His widow has two children.
She lives in the low-income suburb of Domboramwari in Epworth, with her two sons aged seven and five. “I am struggling to raise school fees for my two children. Sometimes they are chased away from school. It seems the party is not listening to our concerns. Whenever we ask for help we are simply told there is no money,” said Dausi.
Thandiwe Ncube (39), widow of John Kamonera, who lives at the Balancing Rocks area in Epworth, said she had turned to selling second hand clothes and vending to earn a living following the death of her husband.
“There was a time when the party used to offer us financial support but now they say they do not have money because of overwhelming demand. My last born was supposed to write his Form Four examinations this year but we did not have the money for him to register.
Kamonera was murdered by Zanu (PF) supporters at Bellapaize Farm torture base in Epworth on 30 July in 2001 after he was abducted from his house.
The suffering of survivors of political violence and persecution perpetrated against MDC supporters by alleged Zanu (PF) activists and State security agents is not limited to Harare.
In Banket, Collen Mutemagawu and his wife, Violet Mupfuranhewe, are also wallowing in poverty.
The couple was arrested and detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in 2008 together with their two-year-old son Nigel on allegations of attempting to violently overthrow the government of President Robert Mugabe.
In Mashonaland Central, East and West, other victims complained that they still felt insecure because they lacked protection from their attackers, and spoke of their daily struggle to receive post-violence treatment and support.
Post published in: News