Matabeleland refuse to join MDC-T and Zanu-pf thuggery

Matabeleland provinces have remained relatively peaceful despite increasing political violence in other areas and the re-emergence of Zapu, the Zimbabwe Peace Project Trust has said.

In its report, the NGO said Bulawayo Province remained one of the country's most safe regions with only four cases of politically-motivated human rights violations having been recorded in November.

"From Luveve constituency war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda was reported to have threatened fellow war veterans who have openly declared their support for Zapu.

He allegedly described the war veterans as sell-outs during the burial of a Zanu PF member at Nkulumane Heroes' Acre.

The report said politically-motivated human rights violations recorded in Matabeleland North were mainly centred on the distribution of farming inputs.

It said villagers in the province had been harassed and intimidated for allegedly trying to defect from Zanu PF and join the re-launched Zapu.

The report also said there were nine politically-motivated human rights violations that were recorded in Matabeleland North.

Matabeleland South was quiet with only two cases of political violence.

"It was, however, difficult to gauge the political environment but the heavy presence of the Zapu party led by Dumiso Dabengwa seemed to be the next source of tension in the province as the other two main political parties in the region would want to fight and retain their seats in Parliament," the report said.