'Make sure that Zanu PF wins 2018 elections'- villagers told

Zanu PF in Nyanga South ward 18 has told the villagers that they must make sure that Zanu PF wins the 2018 elections to keep it in power.

Heal Zimbabwe Trust stated that on 24 October 2016, Zanu PF conducted a meeting to restructure its party cells at Mapako Business Centre.

"Zanu PF party chairman Howard Dzokoto told people at the meeting that in the 2018 elections, they must ensure that Zanu PF wins the election by any means possible. Dzokoto also said that he will ensure that Zanu PF youths set up a base at Mapako business centre so that they monitoring all opposition party activities in the area," said the trust.

 The trust said Mt Darwin ward 8 was also in a tense political situation.

"Community members in Mt Darwin ward 8 are being intimidated and threatened by Zanu PF Youth officer Boaz Matambanadzo for supporting opposition political party, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF)," said the trust. "On 24 October 2016, Matambanadzo led Zanu PF youths who were moving in the ward telling people that anyone who attends the upcoming ZimPF rally that is to be conducted on 29 October 2016 at Dotito Business Centre will have their names written down and will not receive food aid."

The trust said Matambanadzo has also given a directive to all Village heads in the area to compile a list of everyone who will attend the rally.

The trust said in Bikita West ward 19 on 24 October 2016, Zanu PF Provincial Secretary for Finance for Masvingo Province, Jeppy Jaboon threatened community members who were gathered in Gonan'ombe Village for a funeral.

"In his address, Jaboon told people that if they vote for any candidate who is not from Zanu PF in the coming by-election, they will be "dealt" with accordingly. Jaboon also said that what happened in the Norton by-election should never happen in Bikita West constituency. Jaboon told people that they should vote for Zanu PF candidate, Beauty Chabaya resoundingly in the coming by-election," said the trust..

In Mbire ward 17 the trust said Zanu PF ward chairman, Shuden Bandera summoned Village heads Kazhure and Zata Kopakopa to his homestead on 24 October 2016.

"At the meeting, he told the Village heads that they were not going to receive any farming inputs this year because of their continued support of opposition parties. Bandera told them that if they continued facilitating convening of opposition meetings in their areas, they will be stripped off their positions before the 2018 elections. Allegations which the village heads denied. The case has not been reported to the police," said the trust.