News / National
'Join Zanu-PF or lose your home', MDC supporters threatened!
10 Jul 2011 at 18:22hrs | Views
MDC supporters in Mhakwe and Chikwakwa wards in Chimanimani have been forced to join Zanu-PF or risk losing their home. One of Zimbabwe National Army Colonel, Charles Muresherwa has been moving from door to door in the area with soldiers in army uniforms asking the villager's political allegiance, The Zimbabwean reported.
According to the news website all MDC supporters' names in the area have been collected and handed over to their local headmen and chiefs. The villagers have been given until 15 July to join Zanu-PF.
An MDC councillor for ward 19, Stephen Mhlanga said some MDC supporters have already "defected" to Zanu (PF) and are expected to be paraded at a meeting called by Muresherwa on July 15 at Ndangana business centre in Chikwakwa.
"He has organised political rallies where he says soldiers will address the villagers.All the local headmen and chiefs have been instructed to mobilise their subjects to attend," said Mhlanga. The MDC coordinator for Chimanimani, Pardon Maguta, confirmed the latest development in this MDC dominated area.
"We are taking Muresherwa's threats seriously," he said.
Muresherwa has also been accused of setting up torturing bases at Nyambeya primary school, Wengezi township and Nhedziwa growth point in Mutambara where Zanu (PF) youths under his command terrorise opposition supporters.
Two months ago Zanu (PF) youths, allegedly under the colonel's instructions, torched several huts of MDC supporters in Cashel Valley while two beasts belonging to the local MDC district chairperson were axed by the youths after the chairperson refused to sign the so called anti-sanctions petition.
Muresherwa has also been moving around in the constituency with Zanu (PF) youths dolling out cabbages and small pockets of salt as part of his campaign gimmick.
During the run up to the discredited March 2008 elections Muresherwa moved around the constituency brandishing an AK 47 and intimidating MDC supporters.
According to the news website all MDC supporters' names in the area have been collected and handed over to their local headmen and chiefs. The villagers have been given until 15 July to join Zanu-PF.
An MDC councillor for ward 19, Stephen Mhlanga said some MDC supporters have already "defected" to Zanu (PF) and are expected to be paraded at a meeting called by Muresherwa on July 15 at Ndangana business centre in Chikwakwa.
"He has organised political rallies where he says soldiers will address the villagers.All the local headmen and chiefs have been instructed to mobilise their subjects to attend," said Mhlanga. The MDC coordinator for Chimanimani, Pardon Maguta, confirmed the latest development in this MDC dominated area.
"We are taking Muresherwa's threats seriously," he said.
Muresherwa has also been accused of setting up torturing bases at Nyambeya primary school, Wengezi township and Nhedziwa growth point in Mutambara where Zanu (PF) youths under his command terrorise opposition supporters.
Two months ago Zanu (PF) youths, allegedly under the colonel's instructions, torched several huts of MDC supporters in Cashel Valley while two beasts belonging to the local MDC district chairperson were axed by the youths after the chairperson refused to sign the so called anti-sanctions petition.
Muresherwa has also been moving around in the constituency with Zanu (PF) youths dolling out cabbages and small pockets of salt as part of his campaign gimmick.
During the run up to the discredited March 2008 elections Muresherwa moved around the constituency brandishing an AK 47 and intimidating MDC supporters.
Source - The Zimbabwean
