Fear grips Hurungwe villagers as Jochomondo terrorizes

By Talent Bhachi

HURUNGWE- The word Jochomondo brings fear to villagers under Mudzimu Village, Hurungwe. Translated “pounce like an eagle,” in local language Jochomondo was formed in early 2000 and blossomed in 2008, terrorise, loot and extort money from motorists at self-made tollgates.

The militia group is linked to ZANU PF Magunje Member of Parliament Franco Ndambakuwa.

A victim of military outfit, Albert Chitiyo (63) looks like an able bodied man and as he goes about doing his business of carving hoe handles seated, no one will be able to guess that Chitiyo had a twisted leg that makes him want clutches for aid in walking.

“I am now a permanently disabled person thanks to 2008 election, I was attacked by a group of youths aligned to Ndambakuwa (Franco Ndambakuwa is the Member of Parliament for Magunje) and they razed my houses and my leg was permanently deformed.

“Chinhere clinic was closed because of shortage of nurses and drugs. I went to Kapfunde clinic and was told them same story, I had to Hurungwe District hospital where they took time to attend me and I and end developing an infection,” he narrated.

Asked if he wanted election soon, Chitiyo has this to say: “I hate elections, it’s better to live forever under these circumstances because it’s relatively peaceful. Elections bring anguish, suspense and violence, politicians make empty promises, they don’t keep until a time when those that attacked me are behind bars, then I will want an election,” he said.

Hurungwe is a political hot-bed because it falls under Mashonaland West Province, where President Mugabe comes and in most cases, ZANU PF loyalists make it virtually impossible for other parties to campaign.

Villagers under Chief Mudzimu said the call for elections by the country’s leaders sends shivers in their spines because of the notorious militia group.

A police officer at Kapfunde Police station in Hurungwe acknowledged fighting running battles with the notorious militia group unsuccessfully, but referred further questions to Mashonaland West Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Clemence Mabweadziva.

But Mabweadziva professed ignorance about the existence of the militia group, saying police have not yet received such a report.

“We can’t allow that to happen, we have not yet received the report. If a person loses money to a person who is not a police officer at a roadblock, he or she must report to the nearest police station. We will definitely investigate that case after getting a police report from complainants,” said Mabweadziva.

The group was aligned to Magunje Member of Parliament Franco Ndambakuwa during the 2008 elections and now operates in Mahwada Village, frog- marching villagers to its night vigils.

This reporter witnessed an incident where the militia group was intimidating a truck which was delivering beer. “You don’t know who we are, tipe mashake shake ayo (give us the beers),” shouted one member.

A rural councilor who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said the group was now a menace to communities around Hurungwe as it posed a threat to investors and developers.

“We had a case where buses at one time threatened to pull out from plying Harare-Batanai route because this menacing group mounted illegal toll gates, extorting money from drivers,” said the councilor.

Previous Chimusimbe from Chigara Village in Hurungwe said he was made to sing ‘revolutionary’ songs as he was being larruped with knobkerries by the group.

“I was made to sing a song ‘Muri Nhume,’ (Zanu Pf jingle) whilst the Goromondo militia flogged me with logs, my only crime was that I had disappeared during election time,” claimed Chimusimbe.

Teachers at a local Mahwada Primary school in the district said the militia group threatened to pounce on them, accusing them of being ‘opposition activists. The villagers said the intra-party violence that is rocking the province is a testimony that Zimbabwe was not ready for any election.

MDC MP for Hurungwe West Severino Tall Chambati was suspended in June this year by his party following intra-party violence which left several members injured in Zvipani district in Mashonaland West last weekend.

Chambati who is the chairperson of MDC Zvipani district was suspended and barred from doing any political activities in his constituency on behalf of the party until investigations into the matter were concluded.

The decision to suspend Chambati was passed by MDC Mashonaland West Province during the provincial executive committee meeting held in Chinhoyi. Japhet Karemba, chairperson of the MDC Mashonaland West Province confirmed the suspension.

“We have suspended him for inciting public violence in breach of the party’s code of conduct. He is suspended from conducting any political activity in the constituency. We are going to inform the national executive of the decision we have reached as a committee on Chambati,” said Karemba.

After noticing the level of intimidation in the area, Centre for Youth Empowerment and Development Trust engaged young people from all six districts in Mashonaland West province to advocate for the elimination of all forms of violence, including political violence.

The campaign titled Love peace, Love Zimbabwe, was aimed at looking at practical ways of curbing violence in the Province by bringing together young people from various political parties as well stakeholders from other institutions such as Joint Operation Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC).

The advocacy programme started with a training to equip youth leaders with advocacy skills followed by a peace campaign that involved young people from different political parties dressed in their political party regalia taking part in a march to denounce political violence and promoting peace and tolerance on the second day.

The result was a clear demonstration of tolerance as young people interacted peacefully and conducted themselves in a harmonious manner.

“During the workshop we paired them (the young people) and this eliminated the spirit of rebellion, while, after the march they demonstrated a spirit of tolerance as they refused to have the lunch individually insisting to have lunch seated together in one restaurant”, said Henry Muwungani the CYEDT Coordinator.

At the end of the campaign, youth leaders in the province were able to identify their common issues of concern as well as facilitate a plan of implementation for the Peace Advocacy Campaign. However, participants concluded that sustainability of the project can be enhanced through livelihood projects so as to economically empower them to reduce chances of exploitation. Nehanda Radio