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Mwenezi East By-Election: Credibility of the poll face scrutiny - ZPP
23 Mar 2017 at 05:51hrs | Views
As Mwenezi East prepares for a by election the Zimbabwe Peace Project has said it has been on the ground watching events in Mwenezi East ahead of the 8 April by-election and the credibility of the election faces scrutiny after a number of material human rights violations were recorded in the area.
"Reported cases range from vote buying, denial of right to freedom of assembly, denial of food aid and intimidation and harassment. ZPP is worried by the unfolding events in Mwenezi East and more concerned that with each by election that is conducted the same issues are raised and no one is taking any action to ensure that the electorate exercises their political rights in a conducive environment free of intimidation and other malpractices," said ZPP.
ZPP said there is rampant Vote Buying or Politicisation of food aid.
"On 17th of March, there was a Zanu PF campaign rally at Masweswe Secondary school in Ward 13. The rally started around 14:00 hours. The Zanu PF candidate Joosbi Omar distributed rice, a quantity of 1,5kgs to everyone who attended the rally regardless of political affiliation," said ZPP.
"Social Welfare officials denied that the government had a programme to give people rice on this day. This is despite the fact that the rice was obtained from the Grain Marketing Depot in Rutenga. After the donations on the 18th of March the village head for village 4, Mr Mutsikwa convened a meeting questioning why those who do not support the ruling party had accepted and benefitted from Omars' rice donations. The village head said those who do not have Zanu PF cards would not benefit from the cooking oil donations which according to the village head are expected on the 25th of March. He added that those without Zanu PF membership cards must not bother to come for cooking oil on the 25th of March."
ZPP said clear evidence of vote buying was also unearthed by our team during the visit to Mwenezi.
"At Rutenga Grain Marketing Board, the team saw trucks emblazoned with Robert Mugabe and Joosbi Omar posters with inscriptions written, "Zanu PF on Duty" loading sacks of rice and fertilizers to unknown destinations," said ZPP.
"Reported cases range from vote buying, denial of right to freedom of assembly, denial of food aid and intimidation and harassment. ZPP is worried by the unfolding events in Mwenezi East and more concerned that with each by election that is conducted the same issues are raised and no one is taking any action to ensure that the electorate exercises their political rights in a conducive environment free of intimidation and other malpractices," said ZPP.
ZPP said there is rampant Vote Buying or Politicisation of food aid.
"On 17th of March, there was a Zanu PF campaign rally at Masweswe Secondary school in Ward 13. The rally started around 14:00 hours. The Zanu PF candidate Joosbi Omar distributed rice, a quantity of 1,5kgs to everyone who attended the rally regardless of political affiliation," said ZPP.
"Social Welfare officials denied that the government had a programme to give people rice on this day. This is despite the fact that the rice was obtained from the Grain Marketing Depot in Rutenga. After the donations on the 18th of March the village head for village 4, Mr Mutsikwa convened a meeting questioning why those who do not support the ruling party had accepted and benefitted from Omars' rice donations. The village head said those who do not have Zanu PF cards would not benefit from the cooking oil donations which according to the village head are expected on the 25th of March. He added that those without Zanu PF membership cards must not bother to come for cooking oil on the 25th of March."
ZPP said clear evidence of vote buying was also unearthed by our team during the visit to Mwenezi.
"At Rutenga Grain Marketing Board, the team saw trucks emblazoned with Robert Mugabe and Joosbi Omar posters with inscriptions written, "Zanu PF on Duty" loading sacks of rice and fertilizers to unknown destinations," said ZPP.
Source - Byo24News
