Mujuru loyalists denied inputs

THE Zanu-PF factional fights have reportedly taken a nasty turn, with party members perceived to be sympathetic to ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru denied access to agricultural inputs sourced under the Presidential Inputs Scheme.

A Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) report on cases of politically-motivated violations for December 2014 shows a trend where Zanu-PF activists opposed to President Robert Mugabe were denied food and agro-inputs together with opposition MDC-T supporters.

The practice, according to ZPP, was rampant in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces.

This also happened in the Midlands and Manicaland, where those suspected to sympathise with former Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa's faction being denied the inputs.

Mujuru and Mutasa were among several ruling party heavyweights who were relieved of their party and government posts last December over allegations of plotting to topple Mugabe, charges they have, however, denied.

The report said at Rapid Farm in Marondera West, five Zanu-PF youths reportedly prevented two party members perceived to belong to the Mujuru faction from accessing inputs.

Two MDC-T supporters were denied seed at Karuru Township in Hurungwe North in Mashonaland West province in December last year.

"The victims were removed from the queue by Nicholas Ngadowo of Zanu-PF on allegations that they were active MDC-T supporters during the 2013 elections," reads the report in part.

According to the report, 170 political violations were recorded last December and were said to have emanated from intra and inter-party fights.

"These violations were rampant during the distribution of farm inputs such as fertilizer and seed, especially from the Presidential Input Scheme," ZPP said.

Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland provinces recorded cases of threats of displacement.

"The perpetrators of violence against the noted Zanu-PF activists were also Zanu-PF activists," the report reads.

"This presents a new dimension to political violence in Zimbabwe.

"Zanu-PF party members still remain the main perpetrators of violence, with a record of 225 perpetrators compared to 11 from MDC-T party."

The organisation further noted that the number of political violence victims remained high among males (207) compared to females (93).