State Agents 'intimidate, threaten' people to vote for Zanu PF

Suspected state agents have reportedly been seen in some schools in Hurungwe West in an attempt to intimidate and threaten people to vote for the Zanu PF candidate Keith Guzah in the by-election scheduled for June 10.

This was revealed by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP).

"Karambazungu Secondary School, ward 17, is one such school where it is suspected three state agents have been deployed," said ZPP.

"A member of the public said the CIOs have been beating up people in public to drive the message home that Temba is no longer wanted, it is terrifying because they have been deployed at the school."

ZPP said a delegation believed to be from the provincial commissariat led by CdesMurapa and Gurajena have threatened villagers from Chirebvu, Makisi, Bvungo and Pongwa villages with disappearance if they continue to support oustedMliswa. Addressing about 34 people at Mashuma Business Centre on 5 May 2015, the team's political commissar ordered people to talk no more about ‘bhururemusha' (The bull of the village) as Temba is affectionately known in Hurungwe West.

"The Commissar is quoted as having said, "Zanu PF inozivikanwa nenyaya yekutsakatikisa vanhu ende hauwanikwe tisingabatwe saka siyana naye, hokoyo!" (Zanu PF is known for making people disappear and no one can do anything to us so desist from associating with Temba so watch out!) "There has been a deployment ofa Mitsubishi vehicle with a GP registration plate," ZPP reported.

Three people are reported to have been deployed at every school in Hurungwe West.They identified themselves as war veterans who were conducting anti Mliswa meetings in villages."

ZPP reported that the agents were forcing village heads and their villagers to gather and they have been using hate and threatening language saying if they vote for Mliswa in June they will be applying for war in this area'.

"They accused Mliswa of being an American agent and demanded thatif villagers want to be safe they should stop any association with Mliswa the ‘western spy'and save their families from a war," reads the report.

"The meetings were witnessedat Goredema, Mupandagwara, Chiumburukwe, Makudzachamba, Kadooda, Karovamatanda and Baradzamwa villages. Cdes Murapa,Gurajena and Kasinahama are reported to have addressed the meetings."