THE BULAWAYO AGENDA BLOG

Today 30 May 2008

Police cast postal ballots
There are reports that police officers in various parts of the country are conducting postal ballots for the 27 June 2008 Presidential run-off in direct contravention of the Electoral Act. In Bulawayo, police officers were being bussed to Drill Hall from various police stations in the city. The Electoral Act states that postal votes should be conducted a week before Election Day and in the presence of election observers. Police officers are made to vote in front of the Officer Commanding the province and those who went through the process allege that the officer wanted to see exactly how they voting and had resignation forms ready for those who voted for Morgan Tsvangirai.

Meanwhile, all police officers residing in police residences in police camps have been ordered to take down their satellite dishes. Apparently, the order does not affect those who reside outside police camps.

Harare
15 Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) activists including leader Jenni Williams have been in police custody since Wednesday after they were arrested for demonstrating in the Harare City centre.

    
29 May 2008

Police officers begin voting in run off
Gwanda - A meeting was convened today for all heads of sections where all police officers were urged to apply for postal ballots so that they cast their votes in favour of Zanu PF. A senior police officer (name supplied) warned that if they dared spoiled the ballots, they would be dealt with accordingly.

Lupane - Over 200 police officers were bussed into the town overnight to begin voting through postal ballot. They are assembled at Kusile Rural District Council

Gweru
Six MDC activists were arrested in Chirumhanzu after repelling an attack by a ZANU PF mob. The activists appeared in court in Gweru yesterday. The case was postponed to Friday next week and they are currently in custody.

Gokwe
A base was set up yesterday at Tsungai by alleged war vets led by one Musaradada and a Zanu Pf councillor Mrs Moyo. The alleged war vets told the villagers to pay them two Billion dollars or one goat and those that had neither been asked to bring nor less than two chickens. Villagers have been paying for fear for their lives.

Hwange
State security operatives are visiting Hwange Colliery workers’ representatives telling them to advise their colleagues to vote wisely unlike what happened during the March 29 elections.

28 May 2008

Gweru
Youths in the Sogwala area of Lower Gweru are being taken from their homes and made to run long distances by soldiers and Zanu PF militia.

Senior police officers in the Midlands have been instructed to ‘tighten the screws’ on MDC and civil society activists in the province. They were also ordered stop arresting alleged war veterans and Zanu PF thugs perpetrating acts of violence with immediate affect. The names targeted activists read out at a

meeting of top security officers include Peter Muchengeti of Zimcet, Zansi Mabunda (the Gweru Agenda programme officer), Isaac Thebethebe, Charles Chikozho and Nkosinathi Mangena. They were instructed to keep a close track of them.

27 May 2008

Binga community under pressure to vote Zanu PF
State Security, Zanu PF militia and pseudo war vets have been holding successive meetings which villagers are being forced to attend. At one of these meetings on Monday, one of the war vets told the villagers that, “This is the first stage and the next time we come here we will beat you up. You should know who the leader of this nation is.”

In Sianvundu, a village in Binga, war vets threatened villagers warning them that voting for Tsvangirai would lead to bloodshed. However, villagers have declared that they knew who to vote for and would not change their minds even if they were beaten up because they had suffered enough.

Matopo
On 25 May 2008 villagers at Silozwe, Business Centre, Ward 16, were addressed by alleged war veterans who told them that Mugabe would never hand over power to Morgan Tsvangirai even if Tsvangirai won the election. The meeting was addressed by the Zanu PF councillor for Ward 23.

Plumtree
Plumtree Agenda Chairman Edwin Ncube, the programmes officer, Helijah Moyo, Senator-elect for Bulilima Mangwe, Lutho Tapela, and the MDC MP-elect for Bulilima West, Norman Mpofu, were arrested and detained on Saturday 24 May and released 3 days later without charge. Police accused the four of holding a public meeting without clearance. However, the Electoral Act is clear that police only need to be informed of a public meeting and that in any case the

meeting in question was an internal one.

Contact:

Bulawayo Agenda
E-mails: byoagenda@hotmail.com; byagenda@mweb.co.zw
Blog: www.bulawayo_agenda.blog.com
Phone/Fax: +263-9-888211

On 29th March 2008 Zimbabweans voted in parliamentary and presidential elections. In spite of the many difficulties that faced the opposition during the campaign, ZANU PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly. Since then a campaign of terror is being used to intimidate voters while the government is freely manipulating the electoral process and flouting legal norms. There have also been numerous attacks against teachers who acted as polling agents in the March elections and violence against other trade union leaders and activists. There is an urgent need for the African Union to act to end the Zimbabwe crisis. Zimbabwe can be helped back onto a positive path, but African human rights and democratic standards must be restored if the region is to avoid the risk of conflict and insecurity.
 
We call upon the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the United Nations to act to achieve the following:
 

1. An immediate end to State sponsored violence against civilians and the protection of the Zimbabwean people;
 

2. Survivors and victims of violence to receive immediate medical, humanitarian and legal aid;
 

3. Unrestricted humanitarian aid be allowed into the country to meet these needs;
 

4. The African Union to send a team of Eminent Persons to Zimbabwe to investigate the violence, and work towards ending the political crisis;
 

5. SADC under the direction of the African Union to ensure that an environment which allows a free and fair presidential election free from violence and intimidation and free campaigning by all parties to exists before and during the presidential run off;
 

6. African and international human rights monitors and electoral observers and monitors to be admitted to the country and allowed to travel freely and assess and report on conditions. The electoral observers and monitors must be composed of a large number of skilled electoral experts, with a high standing in their countries and on the continent;
 

7. The electoral observers and monitors to remain in Zimbabwe to observe the counting and the announcement of the result;
 

8. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commissions to run and manage the forthcoming presidential elections in an impartial manner as it is obliged to under Zimbabwe constitutional and electoral laws;
 

9. In the event of an electoral dispute where one candidate refuses to accept the result of the run-off, the African Union to take the lead in negotiating or mediating the impasse to reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
 

10. Trade unions and other civil society organisations should be allowed to carry out their legitimate activities in accordance with international legal standards, including the fundamental ILO Conventions.
 

We demand that the African Union and the United Nations live up to their responsibility to protect the people of Zimbabwe.

For the African Union We Demand Action Now to give meaning to May 25 as Africa Liberation Day.

THE DAILY AGENDA

22 May 2008

GWERU
Obert Masaraure, a student from Midlands State University who had participated in a two-man demo in Gweru early this year together with Onwel Marasha, were abducted by war vets while attending Onwel’s mother’s funeral in Zaka on Wednesday.

LUPANE
War veterans have failed to set up a base in Jotsholo fearing that attacking their neighbours might cause strains in their relationship after the run-off. However, some bases have been dismantled in areas such as Mpofu, Ngwende and Dandanda because the community was not cooperating with Zanu PF. As a result, war vets have resorted to holding secret meetings to re-strategise. They have been observed leaving the Zanu PF provincial offices every morning to an unknown destination.

MASHONALAND
The bodies of MDC activists, Godfrey Kawuzane, Cain Nyezi and Betha Sekurinyazamba were found dumped in three different places in Goromonzi and Murewa last week. The three were last seen travelling to Murewa when the vehicle they were travelling in was blocked by two Twin-cabs and abducted. Betha’s body was later discovered last Sunday while the other two bodies were found in Marowa and Goromonzi on Tuesday by villagers. The bodies of the three were in a serious state of decomposition. Their eyes had been plucked out, and ears and tongues cut off.

Another MDC activist, Tonderai Mbira was abducted from his home last week and went missing until yesterday 21 May 2008 when his family was asked to go and identify his body at Pararenyatwa Hospital. His body had decomposed as well.

21 May 2008

GOKWE SOUTH
Alleged war veterans travelling in a cream Mitsibushi without number plates visited Mwambane Village under Chief Mukoka and forced residents to attend a meeting where they were told that they would be taught how to vote, that is, voting for Zanu PF in the presidential run-off. The residents the team were asked to repent and then denounce Morgan Tsvangirai. They were also told to hand over any MDCT-Shirts and membership cards. They threatened to banish anyone who left the area saying that they might as well to join their white colonial masters in Britain.

MDC activists Mr Raphael Mahlangu and Mrs Jairos Mahlangu have since fled from the village leaving their children with a neighbour. The neighbour was later threatened by war vets who warned that that his home would be burnt down for providing refuge the Mahlangu’s children. Earlier, Chief Mukoka, in the company of war vets, CIO agents called a meeting at Msala Clinic and told villagers that a list of over 800 MDC activists had been compiled and that these would be dealt with.

Zanu PF activists brutally assaulted Tinos Mutangi, the Ward 27 MDC campaign team chairman, and fellow activists. This was after they had told police that they had slept in the bush for four days hiding from people who were looking for them. The police had told them that they had no transport to enable them to attend to the case. They were ambushed as they left the police posts.

MATOBO
It has been reported that bases in some areas of Matobo, in have been dismantled Matobo, about 200 m away from the villages, has phased down its operations. The number of threats have decreased following a warning given to war vets by residents that they would retaliate to any violence from them.

NKAYI SOUTH
Manoma Village, under Chief Mandiiwa

A base has been set up by war vets, Zanu PF activists including Van Moyo, the loosing Zanu PF council candidate and a Makhayi Ndlovu. On the night of 11 May, Zanu PF youths then visited Danisa Tshuma’s home. On finding that he was not home, they left a letter with his wife inviting him to Nkayi Police station. Danisa reported to the police the following day and found Nowman Ndlovu, the MDC vice secretary for ward 28 who had received a similar letter. The police at the station then advised the two to flee since they were aware of plans to beat them up. State security operatives driving a cream Mitsubishi truck with no number plates have been going from door to door intimidating known MDC activists.

20 MAY 2008

GOKWE
Fainos Mazhandu and his wife Alice had their home burnt down in Ward 2 E Nembudziya, Gokwe. The two were ferried by scotch carts to Mutora Clinic as they are seriously tortured and cannot work.

PLUMTREE
Benedict Ndlovu, the MDC Madabe Ward 3 councillor has reported that war veterans in the Mangwe Constituency have threatened to kill MDC officials on their list. Among those targeted are Japhat Sibanda, Daniel Sibanda, Thusa Ngwenya and others who have fled the area. Councillor Ndlovu is planning to visit refugee camps in Bostwana to look for them there.

War veterans have been going door to door in Plumtree imploring residents to attend Zanu Pf meetings in the border town. People who do not turn up are being threatened with unspecified action.

CHAKARI MASH WEST
Two women from Danly Down Mine in Chakari, Mashonaland West fled to Bulawayo yesterday after living in the bush 10km from the mine with fifty other victims of political violence. Portia (16) and Esnat Lytonjose (42) escaped an attack from over forty Zanu PF thugs and pseudo war veterans and youth militia who were conducting what they termed an operation to flush out sell outs.

“They were carrying sticks, knives and stones and they were chanting and singing a song that went “Zanu PF shumba yemaCHINJA (Zanu PF are lions to the MDC)” said Portia.  

Portia and Esnat said they had not eaten or slept for more than four days. They left with no money or food leaving the rest hiding in the bush hiding and up to now they do not know what could have happened to them. 

It all began when Zanu PF thugs slipped a note under 16 year old Portia’s home warning her that they (ZANU PF) would be visiting their home along with other suspected MDC supporters. She is a youth activist of the MDC.

Political violence at Dalny Down Mine began on the 4th May 2008 when Mascow Chakarapasi the MDC winning Member of Parliament in Mashonaland East was assaulted by thugs. It was alleged that the Zanu PF thugs were sent by Zanu PF Councillor Gladys Mulambulila who personally escorted Zanu PF thugs and war veterans to point out the homes of those that belonged to the MDC.

19 MAY 2008

Mat South in tense lead up to runoff

The post March 29 election period has been tense and characterized by intimidation, destruction of property and loss of life and limb. This was revealed at a meeting organized by Gwanda Agenda last Friday in the highly contested Matabeleland South province. There has been mobilization of Zanu PF youth militia, pseudo - war veterans and the state security camped in most of the wards in the province and are responsible for acts of political violence in what seems to be a well orchestrated campaign.
 

The meeting was part of consultations being undertaken by a team from Bulawayo Agenda led by Executive Director, Gorden Moyo, who are visiting areas affected by political violence ahead of the Presidential runoff that will pit MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai and Zanu PF’s Robert Mugabe. The runoff, according the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, will be held on 27 June since, according to them, there was no outright winner in the first round.

One of the participants in the discussions said that the province was in a state of trauma with camps or so-called bases having being been set up at every school that was a polling station during the March 29 poll. This was interpreted as a form of intimidation on villagers cautioning to vote properly, that is, for Zanu Pf this time round. In addition to this, locals are being trained by war veterans on methods of torture and this had created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust where villager had turned against villager. This was a recipe for civil war, she said.

Threats of death on those who voted for the opposition have become common with perpetrators of the violence claiming that they were doing so under instructions. Among those who were being targeted were MDC party members, polling agents, teachers, and Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) observers during the last election.
 

The informant  said that some of those people running  the camps were also victims, too scared to leave because anyone who refused to be part of those in the so called ‘bases’ was labelled a sell-out. Some camps were located alongside police posts, yet these offered no protection for the victims.

A shocking discovery was that that some people in Esigodini, Matshetsheni and Enyandeni had each been supplied with 5 litres of fuel toburn the homes of the opposition and cyanide to poison them after the runoff. Such crude methods of intimidation are indeed disturbing.

In areas such as West Nicholson, south of Gwanda, a torture camp that had been set up at the old Liebigs plant had been dismantled after people in the area were severely beaten up by thugs based at the base. Police had earlier expressed ignorance of the camp until they were challenged with compelling evidence about the goings on at the base.

At Insiza, 4 homesteads that belonged to MDC and Zanu PF supporters were burnt down, those of the former being torched in retribution. In another instance, a headman told an informant that they were asked by war veterans why they allowed people under them to vote wrongly when it was President Mugabe who paid their salaries.
 

According to the civil society organisation CIVNET, people were being singled out and mentioned by name and then threatened with death forcing them to flee the area. This was the case in Mtshede where a meeting was called at the school with the intention of flogging the teachers in front of villagers. Fortunately, they caught wind of the plot and fled to Gwanda and Esigodini.

In the Silozwi area, those who were going round threatening members of the community were mainly from the surrounding resettlement areas.
 

At Nathisa, threats were mainly against those who are said not have voted correctly with war vets going round forcing villagers to pay fines or supply them with maize as extortion. This also points to the fact that whoever is behind the setting up of the camps are unable to sustain them in terms of food and other logistical supplies.

It was revealed that a lot of the perpetrators of political violence usually carried out their attacks under cover of darkness indicating that they wanted to hide their identities. It would seem that they are themselves scared to be singled out which means that f people were to have the courage to confront them; they would yield as has happened in other areas.

In the Manama area, a secondary school headmaster called his senior pupils together and asked them how they would feel if their teachers were assaulted in front of them, a popular tactic of humiliating them by war veterans and youth militia. They responded by arming themselves with stones and clubs to defend their teachers against the thugs.

However, it was noted that there were police officers and other members of the security apparatus who were professional in the way they discharged their duties and had risen above being partisan when dealing with cases of political violence.
 

Despite the threats and intimidation, people were looking forward to the runoff. They were appalled at attempts to beat them into submission and thus relished the opportunity for them to be heard this time around. What is required are guarantees that would create an atmosphere that is conducive for everyone to vote freely without fear of retribution.

Contact:

Bulawayo Agenda
E-mails: byoagenda@hotmail.com; byagenda@mweb.co.zw
Blog: www.bulawayo_agenda.blog.com
Phone/Fax: +263-9-888211

BULAWAYO
The MDC- T rally pencilled for White City stadium on Sunday 18 May at 9am is on as scheduled. A cloud of uncertainty has been hanging over the rally after police had denied the MDC clearance to hold the rally. However the High Court in Bulawayo assented to the appeal by the MDC through their lawyer Job Sibanda.

The Chronicle newspaper has refused to carry adverts for Public Meetings to be held on Saturday organised by Gwanda Agenda and Gweru Agenda respectively. No plausible reason was given for the refusal to publish though it suspected that pressure was put to bear on political grounds.

A group of twelve men from Gweru including 6 six teachers fled to Bulawayo yesterday after being threatened by ZANU PF thugs. The twelve who include 6 teachers have sought refuge from the churches in Bulawayo. The overwhelming turnout by the victims had led to the churches facing challenges in as far as acquiring warm clothes, food and accommodation for the victims is concerned.  Doctors for Human Rights are having a look at the children and women who need medical attention.

GWANDA
Gwanda Agenda will be holding a public meeting tomorrow at Gwanda Hotel at 1400hrs. The topic is “Run-off or Negotiation – Is the current environment conducive for a credible run-off?” Panelists are Bheki Sibanda, Lorraine Sibanda and TZ Mnkandla.
 

BINDURA
Eight Families from Chipadze and some from Chiwaridzo have fled 5km from their homes into the bush  were they have been sleeping for the past three days  after receiving threats  from Zanu Pf aligned War Veterans. These families survive by sending individuals to get supplies of food for them..  War vets have been doing door to door visits and are  claiming to be  preparing residents for a  runoff where residents are being ‘encouraged’ to vote wisely. Amongst the affected are one man who has been going to work from the bush and children who have not been going to school.
   

GOKWE
A shop belonging to the business partner of Gokwe-Kana MDC T   candidate   was torched last night. The shop was torched beyond recognition.
    
NKAYI
In Nkayi South Chief Sikhobokhobo is reportedly causing as he is forcing villagers to denounce the MDC in meetings that are held every day in that area. The Chief is being assisted by the War Veterans aligned to Zanu Pf and the youths to whip villagers into voting for Zanu Pf in the Presidential runoff. Villagers have however remained defiant even in the face of such intimidation.  
  
MBERENGWA
Two MDC polling agents in the harmonised election have fled their homes after continuous threats by Zanu Pf youths and War Veterans aligned to the party.  The two ran away after being told to publicly denounce the MDC.
                  

Contact:

Bulawayo Agenda
Email: byagenda@mweb.co.zw byagenda@hotmail.com
Blog: www.bulawayo_blog.blog.com
Web: www.agenda.org.zw
Phone: +263-(0)9-88211

GOKWE
A shop belonging to the Gokwe Kana MDC Tsvangirai candidate’s business partner was torched by War veterans on Wednesday night (14 May) at Gokwe Centre. The shop was totally destroyed and the value of the damage is yet to be established. A surgery belonging to the candidate that is located next to the shop was slightly damaged

MBERENGWA
Rupange, Mabika and Cheshange Schools in Ward 11 Mapiravana are deserted after teachers were assaulted by war veterans yesterday. Some of the victims have arrived in Gweru this morning after fleeing the political violence.

PLUMTREE
CID Plumtree officers visited the Plumtree Agenda office yesterday where they asked the Programmes Officer to furnish them with action plans or programmes of the chapter. When confronted as to why they wanted this information the officers claimed that it was part of their monthly routine.

GWANDA
Garfield Makwati, the son of the late Glory Makwati, won the MDC primary election to stand as candidate in the Gwanda South by- election. The Gwanda South seat is one of three that were postponed during the March 29 Harmonised Elections after some of the candidates died before the poll. ZEC is yet to release the dates of the by-election.

INSIZA
Heavily armed police have been spotted at Bhinisi  around Mjojana. The local community is living in fear at the presence. They have set up a roadblock in the area where they are stopping and searching vehicles.

Contact:
 
Bulawayo Agenda
Email: byagenda@mweb.co.zw byagenda@hotmail.com
Blog: www.bulawayo_blog.blog.com
Web: www.agenda.org.zw

GWANDA
All police officers and their families should vote for Robert Mugabe in the election for the Presidency since Tsvangirai was sure to sack them when he got into office. This was said at a meeting in Gwanda recently where Senior Assistant Commissioner Muderedzwa, the officer commanding Matabeleland South Province was addressing senior officers. The audience included Officers Comanding Gwanda, Beitbridge and Bulilima-Mangwe Districts, all superintendents in the province, officers in charge of stations, sections and their deputies.
 

During the packed meeting which the informant termed a ‘rally’, Muderedzwa, a war veteran, read extensively from the so-called Biti document which has already been proven to be false. In the document, it is claimed, when MDC took over, all senior officers would be fired from the force. It was therefore incumbent on them and their families to vote for Mugabe in order to keep their jobs. He revealed that this time around all police details would vote through the postal ballot system and would cast their vote in front Assistant Commissioner Mlilo and Chief Superintendant Ndlovu (CID) to make sure they voted correctly.
 

A team comprising Superintendants Sigauke from Plumtree and Abraham from transport would go round stations ‘educating’ people how and where to vote. A similar exercise headed by Sup Mukombero would cover police officers’ wives as well. It is reported that the mood among police officers is that of defiance, with some saying that they would not be intimidated by the move to force them to vote for a particular candidate. They said that they would vote whoever they chose even if it was in front of their superiors. Mureredzwa was accompanied by Assistant Commissioner s Benge and Mlilo, both war veterans

MANAMA
A man who was assaulted by Zanu PF youths at Manama is admitted at Gwanda Hospital with serious head injuries.

GOKWE
Police and locals in Gokwe clashed on Monday 11 May after an attack by the police. The locals retaliated and later burnt down a Zanu PF base in the area. Police reinforcements from Gweru were deployed to Gokwe on Tuesday to help calm the situation. Locals have vowed that they will longer continue to be victims and are prepared to fight back

ZVISHAVANE
A family of 5 (2 adults and 3 children) whose home was burnt down in Chipinge on Thursday are in hiding in Maglas Township, Shabani Mine. They have a sick baby.

Nkosinathi Mangena, a ZIMCET Peace educator in Zvishavane was taken in by CIOs and interrogated for 8 hours on last Friday. They wanted to know about the activities of Zimcet, Crisis in Zimbabwe and ZESN. He now fears for his life.

Contact:

Bulawayo Agenda
Email: byagenda@mweb.co.zw byagenda@hotmail.com
Blog: www.bulawayo_blog.blog.com
Web: www.agenda.org.zw

BULAWAYO
There was drama this morning at TM supermarket, Fife Street as till operators were forced to vacate their work stations to join a huge crowd of shoppers who were queuing for sugar outside the supermarket. Distribution of sugar was supervised by suspected war veterans. These war veterans demanded that shoppers produce proof of residence before they could be allowed to purchase the scarce commodity. Not surprisingly, the only shoppers who managed to get sugar were police officers and their spouses.

BINGA
ZANU PF militia and CIOs are said to have left Hwange this morning to back up their colleagues in Binga who were last week chased away from Binga by a group of organised villagers. This group of militia had been originally sent to Binga to root out and deal with any opposition supporters.  The youth militia and CIOs from Hwange have been sent to discipline those Binga villagers who were involved in last week’s clashes.

GOKWE
Police and locals in Gokwe clashed yesterday after members of the police force beat up some members of the public. The locals retaliated by burning down a ZANU PF base which had been set up in the area. Meanwhile, police from Gweru were deployed this morning to assist their colleagues in Gokwe.  The situation is tense in Gokwe as residents have said that they shall fight any form of intimidation and violence to  protect themselves.

LUPANE
Lupane Agenda organised a consultative meeting on Sunday. The meeting was addressed by Bulawayo Agenda Executive Director, Gorden Moyo. Mr. Moyo later visited victims of violence in the Shabulana area. The meeting was attended by over 200 villagers. As a result of the meeting, ZANU PF officials, together with CIO officers in Lupane are reported to be planning a raid of the Lupane Agenda offices to look for the organisation’s membership register, t-shirts and Freeplay radios.
 
MATOBO
War veterans went on a rampage over the weekend in Silozwe ward, Matobo, confiscating Freeplay radios from members of Matobo Agenda and MDC-Tsvangirai. They accused the villagers of listening to anti-government propaganda. Six of the radios were confiscated from Matobo Agenda committee members. The war vets, who have camped in Silozwe, threatened the members with unspecified action for distributing radios to the community. Meanwhile, the Silozwe MDC-Tsvangirai ward councillor, Ethel Nyamkuta, is in hiding as she fears that her life is in danger.

MBERENGWA
Seven people, (two teachers and five locals), were yesterday severely beaten up with iron bars at Chief Bvute area in Mberengwa North. The seven were accused of being MDC supporters. They have since received medical attention at a local hospital.

NKAYI
There are reports of increased political violence in Nkayi. Cleopas Zololo, an activist, and his father, both from Gonye village which is 18km from Nkayi Business Centre, have been seriously assaulted by war vets and ZANU PF militia. Cleopas was stabbed in the chest while his father has a broken arm. The two have since been admitted to hospital in Nkayi.

PLUMTREE
Information has been received that ZANU PF officials   are after Plumtree Agenda Chairperson Edwin Ncube. He is being accused of having helped the MDC win in the March 29 election. He is also being accused of campaigning for Morgan Tsvangirai in the run-off Presidential election. A sympathetic police officer advised Edwin to be careful in his movements as there were plans to abduct him.

VICTORIA FALLS
CIO officers ,war veterans and soldiers yesterday visited the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) in Victoria Falls at 9am and asked to address the employees. The director of ZINWA who happens to be a war veteran, refused and told them to seek clearance from ZINWA head office in Bulawayo. After a brief altercation at the ZINWA offices, the group then proceeded to Busy Island, a curio market, where they addressed vendors and shoppers. They told the vendors that they were not making any consultations but wanted to tell them that the people of Victoria Falls had not voted properly on March 29.  They further threatened that if people voted for Morgan Tsvangirai in the run-off, there would be bloodshed in the country.

Contact:
 
Bulawayo Agenda
Email: byagenda@mweb.co.zw byagenda@hotmail.com
Blog: www.bulawayo_blog.blog.com
Web: www.agenda.org.zw

A team from Bulawayo Agenda led by Executive Director Godern Moyo, visited its regional offices in Victoria Falls, Hwange and Lupane to meet with the respective communities, leaders civic society leaders and operatives. The subject of the tour was to hold consultations following the March 29 harmonised polls and the impending presidential run-off. The aim was to assess the political terrain and also to obtain views from the residents of each respective area how the prevailing environment was impacting on their day to day lives. In Lupane, the steam had an opportunity to talk to victims of the current violent campaign being meted on citizens by war veterans and youth militia. The tour ended with a public meeting at attended by over 200 people.

VICTORIA FALLS AND HWANGE

• Members of the audiences at the meetings said that the flow of information to them was not very smooth and they would appreciate a situation whereby civic society maintained constant communication with the people at grassroots as there is a definite information black-out, especially in small towns and rural areas.  It came out in the contributions from the participants that the people could no longer depend on political parties for reliable information.
• Members of the public confirmed that military bases have been set up in Makwa and Mashala, (Hwange) and in Monde, Jambezi, Chief Shana area, Chibondo, Chikandakubi, Chidobe and Chisumba, (Victoria Falls).  War veterans and youths have been threatening residents with death should the opposition emerge the winner in the run-off.  Some individuals, purportedly war veterans, have been going around the towns compiling lists of names of members in each household. No indication has been given as to what the lists will be used for.
• The towns of Hwange and Victoria Falls are both run by local councils. Because of the delay that has been taken in swearing in councillors, local service delivery has been affected. In the meetings held, it was clear that the political impasse was impacting negatively on service delivery and the day to day functions of local authorities. Since March 29, elected councillors have not yet been officially recognised. This means that councillors are unable to perform their duties. The challenge with such a situation is that residents feel that local authority activities should continue as usual and are expecting the councillors to attend to them. The local authority employees are also equally disoriented as all programmes have halted and they have no idea who should be giving them direction so that work continues as usual.
• The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has lost credibility with ordinary citizens because of its failure to announce results on time and no for failure to set a definite date for the run-off.
• While strides have been made in the larger towns and cities to provide relief for victims of political violence, the voters in the smaller towns fell they are easy targets as they do not know who to approach should anything happen to them.
• Residents of Victoria Falls who depend heavily on the tourism sector to make a living are failing to make ends meet as the industry has been greatly affected by the uncertain political environment. One of the largest hotels in the town confirmed that most hotels were operating at below 10% of their normal capacity.
• Organisations providing food aid to the surrounding rural communities had been stopped from going out into the villages after being accused of being fronts for the opposition MDC or civic society that was pushing for regime change.
• On the whole, the people of Hwange and Victoria Falls were prepared to go and vote again in the run-off and no matter how badly they were beaten, they would not shift their votes to ZANU PF.

LUPANE

Members of the public who attended the public meeting in Lupane on Sunday were resolute in their condemnation of the actions of ZANU PF. They said that their lives were deteriorating by the day and that ZANU PF was not doing anything to change this. The people of Lupane said that for this reason, they would work very hard to see that the reign of this party comes to an end. The district of Lupane has the background of the early eighties atrocities and the surge of terror that the ruling party has undertaken will not change the minds of the people of Lupane on which president to vote for. Members of the audience stated that although the opposition vote had been divided in the March 29 elections, this time they would make sure that they all rallied behind one candidate.

• The people of Lupane are deeply concerned about the credibility of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and feel that the run-off election should be heavily supervised by independent international observers if the results are going to be acceptable. It also seemed that ZEC was acting on behalf of ZANU PF in deliberately not giving out information to the electorate.
• The traditional leadership in Lupane was greatly criticised for its involvement and alignment with the ruling party. The people felt that while traditional leaders were entitled to supporting political parties of their choice and exercising their right to vote as citizens of this country, their participation in political party campaigns should be strongly condemned.
• The people in Lupane are greatly concerned by the effect that the unstable political situation has had on the education of their children. Zenzele Secondary, Makhovula Primary, Ndamuleni Primary, Sibombo Primary, Ekuphakemi Secondary and Mzola 55 Primary schools  in Lupane had not opened because either no teachers at all on opening day or because less than five teachers had turned up. The reason given for the teachers’ absence was that they felt that their lives were in danger after they had been accused of not having performed their duties well as polling officers in the March 2008 elections.
• Members of the audience also raised concerns over the displacement of their friends and family members who were voters. They said these voters would not be able to vote in the run-off as they were hiding in constituencies where they could not vote. Members of the public were concerned that this would affect the outcome of the run-off presidential election. Another challenge that the audience raised was the placement of polling officers, mostly teachers in constituencies far away to reduce their chances of casting their votes.
• The use of food as a campaign tool would not buy ZANU PF any votes. Granted, the people of Lupane were facing hunger but they shall not vote for a party that remembers to give them food when it wants to be elected into power.

Another issue that was brought up in the meetings was that traditional leaders have become deeply embroiled in partisan politics. In Lupane, villagers strongly condemned the involvement of their leaders in political party campaigns and felt that the leaders could no longer execute their duties effectively if they openly in support of any political party.
Villagers also stated that they felt the traditional leaders could have prevented the setting up of military and youth militia bases in the rural areas if they stamped their authority and prohibited any such settlements. One of the roles of traditional leaders is to deny or approve the settlement in their respective communities of any new people.

The team is due to visit Gwanda, Matopo and Gweru on a similar mission to consult the local communities and get a feel of the situation on the ground. The success of the tour was indicated by the enthusiasm with which the team was received and the change in the residents from that of fear to that of being resolute and confident in their approach to the issues at hand. 

Contact:

Bulawayo Agenda
E-mails: byoagenda@hotmail.com; byagenda@mweb.co.zw
Blog: www.bulawayo_agenda.blog.com
Phone/Fax: +263-(0)9-888211

HWANGE
A white Roman Catholic priest was attacked in Makwa, 45km from Hwange by war veterans on Wednesday 7 May, accusing him of being one of those intending to take the land back and an MDC sympathiser. He has sought refuge in Hwange.

The Zanu PF aligned war veterans from Hwange are reported to have gone to Binga on Monday 5 May, with the intention of harassing the community because they voted for the MDC. They met their match when the community resisted, chasing then away armed with axes and logs.

GUTU WEST
Energy Karanjisi aged 22 and four of his friends, temporary teachers at Chiguhune Secondary School, were beaten up by a gang comprising of war veterans and youths led by a Thomas Chamisa from the Manyuchi family. They claim that teachers were responsible for rigging the election in favour of the MDC. Property worth billions was set alight with presiding and election officers and other teachers fleeing the area. Energy has fled to Gweru and the whereabouts of his colleagues is unknown.       
 
LUPANE
A man from Mpahlwa village has fled his home following threats Zanu PF thugs who have said they want to eliminate him because he was one of those campaigning against Mugabe. He has taken refuge with relatives at another village.

GWANDA
Education Officers have visited schools in the Gwanda area threatening teachers who intend going on strike citing poor remuneration and working conditions.

Contact:

Bulawayo Agenda
E-mails: byoagenda@hotmail.com; byagenda@mweb.co.zw
Blog: www.bulawayo_agenda.blog.com
Phone/Fax: +263-(0)9-888211

Political violence which for most of the last month has not been experienced in the opposition stronghold of the Matabeleland province has now started to rear its ugly head. Lupane seems to lead the stakes when it comes to the number of reported beatings, threats and the burning of houses.

Lupane – Two homesteads belonging to the local MDC Tsvangirai ward and youth chairmen were torched at Sibombo by suspected war veterans on Sunday. The incident occured at around 2am and the houses were completely destroyed. At the ward chairman’s home, the assailants wanted to burn down the main house in which his family was sleeping but it failed to ignite since it was not thatched. The dwelling they eventually burnt down had property worth billions of Zimbabwe dollars belonging to the MDC chairman’s children who are based in South Africa. 
 

Plumtree – A base set up in the border town is now operational with the war veterans and militias reported to be going from door to door telling residents that they should vote for the Zanu PF candidate, Robert Mugabe. They are saying that voting for Morgan Tsvangirai would lead to bloodshed.
 

Gweru – Gweru Agenda officers summoned by state security operatives were interrogated about the activities of the organisation. This has been interpreted to be a form of harrassment and confirms reports that civic organisations in the Midlands town are under surveillance.

Mberengwa - A woman from  Chief Kashombe’s area has fled to Gweru after her husband was severely assaulted and had his leg was dislocated by war veterans who claimed they were teaching them to ‘vote wisely.’

Victoria Falls – The situation is very tense in the border town with Zambia after clashes were reported between traders from both countries and their respective security forces. This follows the raiding of flea markets belonging to Zambian traders in Vic Falls a fortnight ago. Since then, Zambians have been physically preventing Zimbabweans from entering their country. This has sucked in the armies and police of both countries who are reported to be deporting nationals to their respective countries.

West Nicholson – War veterans and militias who were reported to have been assaulting villagers from last week have been arrested. People sympathizing with the MDC were being targeted. 

Centenary (Mashonaland Central) - Ten people are reported to have been beaten to death in Chawarura area. There are also reports that army tanks have been spotted in the Centenary district. More details expected.