News / National
Villagers forced to contribute towards independence celebrations
17 Apr 2017 at 07:27hrs | Views
Villagers in Mudzi District Mudzi North ward 10 are reportedly being forced to contribute some money towards the independence celebrations.
THis was confirmed by Heal Zimbabwe Trust which said on 4 April 2017, Village head Mazonde deployed people in the ward who embarked on a door to door exercise forcing people to contribute $1 per household towards Independence Day Commemorations.
"The people told villagers that if they refused to pay, they were going to be denied food aid. In ward 9, Village heads Chokufuna and Zondo have also embarked on the same exercise and have even threatened that they were going to submit the names of people who refuse to pay to the Zanu PF leadership in Mudzi Provincial offices. As a follow up on the matter, Heal Zimbabwe contacted Mudzi North Legislator, Newton Kachepa who condemned the exercise as illegal. He also promised to launch an investigation into the matter," said the trust.
"In Ward 19 on 6 April 2017, Zanu PF chairperson, Machivai Chimimba conducted a meeting at Madzivanhanga Primary school with women from the ward. At the meeting, she announced that they were supposed to vote for Zanu PF in the 2018 elections. She also announced that those who defy risk being assaulted by ZANU PF youths and also denied food aid."
Villagers in Buhera's ward 33 were also reportedly forced top contribute towards the independence celebrations.
Heal Zimbabwe Trust reported that in Buhera South ward 33, Village heads Mashame, Mushati, Chitiyo and Tama have been collecting 50cents per household as contributions towards Independence Day Commemorations.
"When Heal Zimbabwe contacted the village heads implicated in this illegal exercise, they confessed that they were instructed to do so by deputy District Administrator, Rufaro Mashayamombe. As a follow up on the matter, Heal Zimbabwe contacted Buhera South Legislator, Joseph Chinotimba who condemned the practice and said that Village heads who were forcing people to pay the money were supposed to be arrested as forcing people to make contributions is illegal. He also promised to make a follow up by reporting the matter to the police," said the trust.
While in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe's Ward 8, Village head Temba Joe has been forcing villagers to collect $3 monetary contributions per household towards Independence Day celebrations.
The trust said the Village head also deployed several youths who have since started collecting the money and threatening people that if they fail to pay, they risked being denied food aid.
THis was confirmed by Heal Zimbabwe Trust which said on 4 April 2017, Village head Mazonde deployed people in the ward who embarked on a door to door exercise forcing people to contribute $1 per household towards Independence Day Commemorations.
"The people told villagers that if they refused to pay, they were going to be denied food aid. In ward 9, Village heads Chokufuna and Zondo have also embarked on the same exercise and have even threatened that they were going to submit the names of people who refuse to pay to the Zanu PF leadership in Mudzi Provincial offices. As a follow up on the matter, Heal Zimbabwe contacted Mudzi North Legislator, Newton Kachepa who condemned the exercise as illegal. He also promised to launch an investigation into the matter," said the trust.
"In Ward 19 on 6 April 2017, Zanu PF chairperson, Machivai Chimimba conducted a meeting at Madzivanhanga Primary school with women from the ward. At the meeting, she announced that they were supposed to vote for Zanu PF in the 2018 elections. She also announced that those who defy risk being assaulted by ZANU PF youths and also denied food aid."
Villagers in Buhera's ward 33 were also reportedly forced top contribute towards the independence celebrations.
"When Heal Zimbabwe contacted the village heads implicated in this illegal exercise, they confessed that they were instructed to do so by deputy District Administrator, Rufaro Mashayamombe. As a follow up on the matter, Heal Zimbabwe contacted Buhera South Legislator, Joseph Chinotimba who condemned the practice and said that Village heads who were forcing people to pay the money were supposed to be arrested as forcing people to make contributions is illegal. He also promised to make a follow up by reporting the matter to the police," said the trust.
While in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe's Ward 8, Village head Temba Joe has been forcing villagers to collect $3 monetary contributions per household towards Independence Day celebrations.
The trust said the Village head also deployed several youths who have since started collecting the money and threatening people that if they fail to pay, they risked being denied food aid.
Source - Byo24News
