The Daily Agenda 30 June to 4 July 2008
THE DAILY AGENDA
Bulawayo Agenda compiles the Daily Agenda from reports and alerts from its network of contacts located in areas served by its chapters. It offers an alternative source of information from the mainstream media that is often restricted in terms of reach and its focus on the grassroots.
People in Mkoba suburb were severely assaulted by Zanu PF youth and were taken to Gweru General Hospital. There are fears that they may have been followed to the hospital by their attackers. Hospital authorities are reluctant to release any information on the case.
Hundreds of Zanu PF supporters were today gathered at their provincial headquarters chanting slogans and singing liberation songs. The situation was reported to be tense at the time this report was received and there were fears that it could degenerate into violence.
VICTORIA FALLS
Police and other civil servants have been loitering around the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission command centre since morning, waiting to be remunerated for the services they provided during the runoff election period. They eventually dispersed after lunch without getting their paid.
Six days after the presidential election runoff, police officers and people in Zanu PF regalia were seen having holding a meeting at a ZEC command centre. It is yet to e established what the meeting was about.
The Hwange Town Council has targeted a group of residents accusing them of taking information to the opposition. They are reported to be denying them services claiming that they had passed complaints about how badly the town council had been affected by councillors not having been sworn in and deteriorating service delivery. The comments were made at a meeting organized by Hwange Agenda. Council employees who attended the same meeting are being victimized by their employer with some having appeared at a disciplinary meeting.
Nkosilathi Mangena, an MDC activist from Zvishavane, has fled the country after he was assaulted and left for dead by war veterans and suspected state agents. Activists from Midlands have been targeted for elimination and these include Peter Muchengeti, Zansi Mabunda, Charles Chikozho, Isaac Thebethebe and Nkosilathi Mangena. NGOs remain closed in Midlands even after the controversial runoff victory. Courts are yet to give ruling on a challenge on the closure of NGOs and CSOs. Activists remain the targets of violent attacks.
GWANDA
The GMB depot in Gwanda is selling mealie-meal only to those with indelible ink on their fingers. Bhokisi Sibanda, a Zanu PF activist is said to have been standing guard at the gate checking for those without the ‘red finger.’
On Monday the local people’s shop located at Sesemba ward was selling cooking oil only to those with a red indelible ink on their fingers. At Nkayi Centre, however, at the same commodity was sold to everyone without favour. This did not go down well with Zanu PF aligned war veterans who wanted it sold only to the ruling party supporters and a scuffle is said to have broken out at the shop.
BINGA
Most people in Binga refused to go and vote on the 27th June citing that they voted in March.
LUPANE
There was a low voter turn-out in Lupane as the majority of people took heed of the MDC call to boycott the run off. There was intimidation from Zanu PF supporters as they threatened to persecute those who did not vote. At 10 stations an average of 50 people in each one had voted by 3pm. Some of the MDC supporters said they went to the polls for their safety but spoilt their votes while others said they were agitated because they did not know that Morgan Tsvangirai had pulled out. They said had they known they would not have turned up to vote. More than 80 people were turned away from different polling stations for varying reasons. Some are said to have deliberately gone to the wrong polling station or wards in protest, and some without identity cards. In Gomoza, targeted villagers are reported have fled their homes following threats and violence unleashed by Zanu PF supporters on Sunday.
NKAYI
Most polling stations recorded a number of spoilt papers written ‘Phuma’ (get out) and other strong language. The actual number is yet to be ascertained. The local District Co-ordination Committee of Zanu PF had a members sitting alongside the Presiding officer in most polling stations. These officials are said to have been writing down the names of those that voted. This is in addition to the presence of one or two polling officers who were known war veterans of Zanu PF activists. Meanwhile, ZEC officials at Nkayi are reported to have been known Zanu PF officials. The officials were comprised of the women’s league chairperson, secretary and commissar. On the other hand, Sikobokobo Ward was an exception being the only polling station with MDC election agents. An MDC youth who sought refuge at Gwelutshena police station after he was assaulted by Zanu PF activists was told by a Constable Mahlangu that he would only be assisted when Tsvangirai is ruling.
GWERU
A vehicle that was part of a Zimbabwe Election Support Network convoy to Gokwe had its tyres slashed as it was mistaken for international observers. The rear wheels of the vehicle driven by Nkosinathi Mangena’s car were slashed by Zanu PF youths. He was also accused of ‘driving without permission’ and made to pay a ‘fine’ of ZW$90 billion for not respecting the thugs.
Contact:
Bulawayo Agenda Information Department
E-mails: byagenda@mweb.co.zw
Blog: www.bulawayo_agenda.blog.com
Phone/Fax: +263-(0)9-888211
Mobile: 0912516724
Bulawayo Agenda compiles the Daily Agenda from reports and alerts from its network of contacts located in areas served by its chapters. It offers an alternative source of information from the mainstream media that is often restricted in terms of reach and its focus on the grassroots.
4 July 2008
GWERU
People in Mkoba suburb were severely assaulted by Zanu PF youth and were taken to Gweru General Hospital. There are fears that they may have been followed to the hospital by their attackers. Hospital authorities are reluctant to release any information on the case.
Reports are reaching us that 6 people were assaulted and 4 are said to have died in an attack yesterday. The bodies were found at the Mucheka Ndumba area along the Gweru-Kwe Kwe Highway and taken to Gweru General Hospital where relatives were denied access to the bodies for identification. It is alleged that a state security operative was among those killed after he tried to stop his colleagues from carrying out the callous act.
Lloyd Ndaba, the Midlands president of the Leather and Allied Products Workers Union, was been severely assaulted by police in Gweru, today, and is undergoing treatment. The reason for the assault is unknown. Gweru City Council worker, Veronica Ngwenya, was taken to a Zanu PF base in Mkoba 20 and badly beaten on Wednesday.
LUPANE
Hundreds of Zanu PF supporters were today gathered at their provincial headquarters chanting slogans and singing liberation songs. The situation was reported to be tense at the time this report was received and there were fears that it could degenerate into violence.
3 July 2008
VICTORIA FALLS
Police and other civil servants have been loitering around the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission command centre since morning, waiting to be remunerated for the services they provided during the runoff election period. They eventually dispersed after lunch without getting their paid.
LUPANE
Six days after the presidential election runoff, police officers and people in Zanu PF regalia were seen having holding a meeting at a ZEC command centre. It is yet to e established what the meeting was about.
HWANGE
The Hwange Town Council has targeted a group of residents accusing them of taking information to the opposition. They are reported to be denying them services claiming that they had passed complaints about how badly the town council had been affected by councillors not having been sworn in and deteriorating service delivery. The comments were made at a meeting organized by Hwange Agenda. Council employees who attended the same meeting are being victimized by their employer with some having appeared at a disciplinary meeting.
1 July 2008
GWERU
Nkosilathi Mangena, an MDC activist from Zvishavane, has fled the country after he was assaulted and left for dead by war veterans and suspected state agents. Activists from Midlands have been targeted for elimination and these include Peter Muchengeti, Zansi Mabunda, Charles Chikozho, Isaac Thebethebe and Nkosilathi Mangena. NGOs remain closed in Midlands even after the controversial runoff victory. Courts are yet to give ruling on a challenge on the closure of NGOs and CSOs. Activists remain the targets of violent attacks.
GWANDA
The GMB depot in Gwanda is selling mealie-meal only to those with indelible ink on their fingers. Bhokisi Sibanda, a Zanu PF activist is said to have been standing guard at the gate checking for those without the ‘red finger.’
NKAYI
On Monday the local people’s shop located at Sesemba ward was selling cooking oil only to those with a red indelible ink on their fingers. At Nkayi Centre, however, at the same commodity was sold to everyone without favour. This did not go down well with Zanu PF aligned war veterans who wanted it sold only to the ruling party supporters and a scuffle is said to have broken out at the shop.
30 June 2008
BINGA
Most people in Binga refused to go and vote on the 27th June citing that they voted in March.
LUPANE
There was a low voter turn-out in Lupane as the majority of people took heed of the MDC call to boycott the run off. There was intimidation from Zanu PF supporters as they threatened to persecute those who did not vote. At 10 stations an average of 50 people in each one had voted by 3pm. Some of the MDC supporters said they went to the polls for their safety but spoilt their votes while others said they were agitated because they did not know that Morgan Tsvangirai had pulled out. They said had they known they would not have turned up to vote. More than 80 people were turned away from different polling stations for varying reasons. Some are said to have deliberately gone to the wrong polling station or wards in protest, and some without identity cards. In Gomoza, targeted villagers are reported have fled their homes following threats and violence unleashed by Zanu PF supporters on Sunday.
NKAYI
Most polling stations recorded a number of spoilt papers written ‘Phuma’ (get out) and other strong language. The actual number is yet to be ascertained. The local District Co-ordination Committee of Zanu PF had a members sitting alongside the Presiding officer in most polling stations. These officials are said to have been writing down the names of those that voted. This is in addition to the presence of one or two polling officers who were known war veterans of Zanu PF activists. Meanwhile, ZEC officials at Nkayi are reported to have been known Zanu PF officials. The officials were comprised of the women’s league chairperson, secretary and commissar. On the other hand, Sikobokobo Ward was an exception being the only polling station with MDC election agents. An MDC youth who sought refuge at Gwelutshena police station after he was assaulted by Zanu PF activists was told by a Constable Mahlangu that he would only be assisted when Tsvangirai is ruling.
GWERU
A vehicle that was part of a Zimbabwe Election Support Network convoy to Gokwe had its tyres slashed as it was mistaken for international observers. The rear wheels of the vehicle driven by Nkosinathi Mangena’s car were slashed by Zanu PF youths. He was also accused of ‘driving without permission’ and made to pay a ‘fine’ of ZW$90 billion for not respecting the thugs.
Contact:
Bulawayo Agenda Information Department
E-mails: byagenda@mweb.co.zw
Blog: www.bulawayo_agenda.blog.com
Phone/Fax: +263-(0)9-888211
Mobile: 0912516724
