Hurungwe villagers living in fear of Zanu PF threats

By Trymore Mandangu

HURUNGWE – Quenching off the day’s thirst with one’s favourite brew at the nearest drinking hole, among familiar faces, is a daily pastime for most rural folks.

But not for Patrick Makoni (70) of Dicks farm under Chief Dendera, Magunje after his nearest spot was declared off bounds by a militant war veteran accusing him of supporting the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC.

A visibly shaken Makoni narrated his ordeal to this reporter saying a group of ZANU PF supporters led by a war veteran he could only identify as Kwaramba banned him from drinking at Joahani farm threatening him with violence if he sets foot at the shops.

“Kwaramba is a violent person and after the threats, I reported the case to Karoi rural police as I fear for my life. I have seen what these people can do”, said Makoni, adding that he has avoided the place ever since.

Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabweazara confirmed the report whose case number is CR 20/07/12

Makoni’s case is just one of many where ZANU PF militia, war veterans and security forces, particularly the Second Brigade of Magunje, harass and intimidate perceived and real MDC T supporters in the politically volatile district of Hurungwe, infamous for deadly violence in the 2008 elections.

Human rights violations, intimidation and threats of violence have become formidable tools to browbeat political foes into submission in the region where many still carry the scars of political violence.

Apart from intimidation and threats of violence, ZANU PF activists, including traditional leaders are also abusing community projects to victimise MDC T supporters and other apologists. Seed and input distribution in Magunje and other areas in Hurungweis done along partisan ostracising MDC T members and supporters.

Investigations by this reporter revealed that ZANU PF ‘terror’ groups were already in place and the wheels of terror in motion with the groups harassing and threatening members of the opposition and other villagers.

In May, Simon Mupfurutsa and Farai Kaitano, teachers at Chikangwe High School in Karoi were harassed after hordes of ZANU PF supporters demanded their removal from school because of their involvement with the MDC T.

Teachers, due to their opinion leader status are generally regarded as agents of regime change in rural Zimbabwe where ZANU PF still commands considerable support.

“ZANU PF supporters came to the school demanding that I leave the school because of my involvement with MDC T… we live in fear as they constantly threaten us”, said Mupfurutsa

Contacted for comment, ZANU PF Mashonaland West chairman John Mafa said he was not aware of any incidents of terror in Hurungwe. “As a party we are not aware of such incidents, if there are any, we haven’t heard of them”, he said.

Soldiers at the 23 Combat Group Satellite Training Centre, 35km south-west of Karoi are also reportedly unleashing recruits to terrorise MDC T supporters at Magunje growth point. MDC T secretary for Magunje, Tonderai Kusemamuriwo who runs Magunje Inn said soldiers come at any time and chase away revellers from the Inn.

“The army here is partisan, it is used to intimidate and perpetrate violence against our supporters. They chase away revellers from my place because I am MDC T”, said Kusemamuriwo, who added that his party had reported all the cases of violence threats and intimidation to the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC).

JOMIC provincial liaison officer Zororai Malasha could neither deny nor confirm that JOMIC was handling the two cases.

“We are not in a position to divulge information on the cases we are working on. What I can tell you is that we have a number of cases from Hurungwe and are working to see that there is peaceful co-existence in the area”, Malasha said

Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson Colonel Alfonso Makotore could however not comment on the activities of the army in Magunje saying he was on leave but referred this reporter to a major Zuva. “I cannot comment, I am on leave please get in touch with major Zuva in Magunje”, col Makotore said

Numerous attempts to contact major Zuva failed with the army line going straight to Tel One offices in Karoi. A male operator at Tel One said the line to the barracks were dead.

Threats against MDC T supporters increased after Jabulani Sibanda descended on the district in July where he held indoctrination rallies. During the rallies, Sibanda declared ‘war’ against MDC supporters, threatened to raze down their homes and drive away all MDC elements from Hurungwe.

Edmore Chinanzvavana from Zinyama kraal under Chief Dendera had his house burnt days after one of Sibanda’s rallies.

“My house was burnt by ZANU PF militia after Sibanda had declared war against the MDC. We now live in fear of what they will do next, the police is not helping as they are selectively applying the law”, said Chinanzvavana

Sibanda, a controversial war veteran’s leader, is believed to be part of ZANU PF’s political grand plan to bully its opposition ahead of elections that are likely to be held next year. He is currently travelling around the country where he is teaming up with traditional leaders to hold indoctrination rallies

In Kazangarare villagers were frog marched to Sibanda’s rallies. According to villagers who attended the rally, chief Kazangarare decreed that everyone had to attend the rally.

“The rally was called by the chief who decreed that everyone had to attend. Those who resisted were frog marched by ZANU PF youth”, said Joel Chibanda, a villager from Mhereyenyoka.

A source close to headman JawertKazangarare, son to chief Kazangarare said the rallies were meant to test the levels of ZANU PF opposition in the area and send a clear message on the consequences of dining with MDC T. Jawert, a former army officer moves around brandishing a pistol and symboks MDC T supporters at his kraal

“Jawert told me that the rallies were meant to test the party’s popularity ahead of elections and decide on the amount of force necessary to ensure a ZANU PF victory in the elections”, said the source who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation

The war veterans’ leader however denied that his rallies were meant to instill fear in the people or fan violence, saying they were peaceful rallies where the party was trying to reconnect with the people. “If there was violence or harassment after I left Hurungwe I cannot answer on that”, Sibanda said.