Mwenezi East By-Election-Incident report- opposition campaign material destroyed

The Zimbabwe Peace Project has reported that there has been an increase in the number of incidents where opposition parties campaign posters have been destroyed by the ruling Zanu PF activists as Mwenezi east gears for the by election.

The organisation said it seems there is no Right to freedom of assembly in the area.

"A Zimbabwe People First rally which was said to have been initially authorised by the Masvingo Dispol was disrupted at the last minute by anti-riot police at Rutenga shopping Centre. The Dispol changed his mind as the rally was about to start saying he had received orders from the top to stop the rally"" said ZPP.

ZPP said there is a lot of intimidation and Harassment of villagers.

"Those that turned up for the intended Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) rally were allegedly followed to their homes by the Zanu PF district committee members and ordered to stop supporting opposition political parties. Transform Zimbabwe candidate, Turner Mhango also suffered serious intimidation by local Zanu PF
supporters. Police asked him whether his rallies were important to the people of Mwenezi before barring the rally," said ZPP.

"Opposition campaign material has been torn. Most torn posters are that of Zim PF's Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and National Constitutional Assembly's Welcome Masuku. Those of the 4th candidate Turner Mhango from Transform Zimbabwe are not there in Rutenga and surrounding areas. Zanu PF youths stand accused of tearing opposition posters or intimidating those putting up the posters. Drivers of buses say they cannot put posters of opposition parties as this can result in them being victimised by police or rank marshals."

ZPP said meanwhile Bhasikiti of ZimPF is reported to have threatened to withdraw from the elections if his supporters continue to be harassed.