News / National
MDC-T, ZimPF in recruitment drive
29 Sep 2016 at 07:03hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Peace Project has reported that in August MDC-T and ZimPF are trying hard to grow their membership base especially in rural areas as they prepare for the 2018 general elections. Ironically, it is during this month that most rural communities are looking forward to food aid as most granaries are dry.
"In Zimbabwe failure to accept other political players is becoming a sad culture. Those that are in Zanu PF believe they deserve to use state resources and determine beneficiaries," said ZPP said.
"The shocking levels of intolerance have gone beyond Zanu PF and opposition but between MDC-T and ZimPF as well. On 20 August Mashonaland East MDC-T supporters went rogue and started their own campaign "tinodawo mastands" (we also want residential stands)."
ZPP said the right to land has lost it's universality as opposition political parties are sidelined in land distribution and redistribution.
"MDC-T youths have also become intolerant that they believe they are more deserving of rights more than other political party supporters. In Mt Darwin North, people that are known to support ZimPF are called out by Zanu PF leadership, humilated and told not to attend public gatherings. Some are forced to denounce their political parties. These are signs that 2018 elections preparations are in full gear," ZPP said.
"There are no attempts to foster development regardless of political affiliation. In Mutoko North at Masisi Primary School the school development committee delved in identifying school cooks and the political parties they belong to, expelling one cook on grounds that he does not support Zanu PF."
The ZPP said a development meeting was disrupted in Mutoko South when the Member of Parliament, David Chapfika, said the agenda of the meeting should have included an aspect discouraging people from taking part in protests against the ruling government.
"The intolerance not only breeds physical violence between members of different political parties but the rot continues to spread to food distribution. On 12 August in Makoni North a social worker from Chingono Village was victimised after refusing to side line MDC-T supporters during food distribution," said ZPP. "Opposition activists live in communities where their rights to shelter and food are violated. It is disconcerting to note that as granaries are dry more and more citizens are being denied food aid that is distributed by the Department of Social Welfare."
ZPP said it is sad to note that citizens' freedom to demonstrate and petition is still at risk as police continue to brutalise those who exercise this freedom.
"Brutality linked to street protests have also followed known opposition and citizen movement activists to their homes raising red flags around risks of abduction and or kidnapping. Journalists have become victims of brutality in the conduct of their duties and some have languished in prison for several weeks," ZPP said.
"In Zimbabwe failure to accept other political players is becoming a sad culture. Those that are in Zanu PF believe they deserve to use state resources and determine beneficiaries," said ZPP said.
"The shocking levels of intolerance have gone beyond Zanu PF and opposition but between MDC-T and ZimPF as well. On 20 August Mashonaland East MDC-T supporters went rogue and started their own campaign "tinodawo mastands" (we also want residential stands)."
ZPP said the right to land has lost it's universality as opposition political parties are sidelined in land distribution and redistribution.
"MDC-T youths have also become intolerant that they believe they are more deserving of rights more than other political party supporters. In Mt Darwin North, people that are known to support ZimPF are called out by Zanu PF leadership, humilated and told not to attend public gatherings. Some are forced to denounce their political parties. These are signs that 2018 elections preparations are in full gear," ZPP said.
The ZPP said a development meeting was disrupted in Mutoko South when the Member of Parliament, David Chapfika, said the agenda of the meeting should have included an aspect discouraging people from taking part in protests against the ruling government.
"The intolerance not only breeds physical violence between members of different political parties but the rot continues to spread to food distribution. On 12 August in Makoni North a social worker from Chingono Village was victimised after refusing to side line MDC-T supporters during food distribution," said ZPP. "Opposition activists live in communities where their rights to shelter and food are violated. It is disconcerting to note that as granaries are dry more and more citizens are being denied food aid that is distributed by the Department of Social Welfare."
ZPP said it is sad to note that citizens' freedom to demonstrate and petition is still at risk as police continue to brutalise those who exercise this freedom.
"Brutality linked to street protests have also followed known opposition and citizen movement activists to their homes raising red flags around risks of abduction and or kidnapping. Journalists have become victims of brutality in the conduct of their duties and some have languished in prison for several weeks," ZPP said.
Source - Byo24News
