Mnangagwa allies force vendors to attend rally

Vice President Emmerson Mnangwa's allies reportedly forced vendors to attend a star rally at Rudhaka stadium in Marondera where Mnangagwa was guest of honour in Marondera Central.

Zimbabwe Peace Project reported that a team of municipal police led by Kenneth Hwenjera forced vendors to attend the meeting.

"Municipal police forcefully took and confiscated goods belonging to vendors that had failed to comply. Several vendors lost their wares and among them was Lucky Zindoga a local cell phone vendor who lost a number of cell phones," reported ZPP.

"A group of Zanu PF youths who reside in Barrowsheet suburb, Goromonzi South allegedly assaulted four MDC-T supporters for wearing MDC-T party regalia. It is alleged that a Zanu PF youth group led by Maphios Makahamadze approached the four who were coming from an MDC-T rally held at Spar shopping centre."

ZPP said the MDC-T supporters were ordered to remove their party regalia but they resisted.

"The four were assaulted resulting in their clothes being torn. One of the victims identified as Cleopatra Makoni ran away and called for backup and within minutes other MDC-T supporters intervened and rescued their colleagues. The incident was not reported to the police thus no arrests were made," reported ZPP.

"Goromonzi West villagers were forced to contribute $1 towards the Heroes' Day commemorations. It is alleged that Hatious Marange from ward 7 was selected to coordinate collection of the money on 8 August. Households that could not contribute $1 due to financial challenges were ordered to contribute 5kg bags of maize instead."

ZPP said the commemorations were to be held at Umritsur farm in ward 8. ZanuPF youth leader, Tapiwa popularly known as Dread Taps intimidated people during the collections saying he will locate all those that fail to contribute.

"Mafios Shekede an aide to Chief Samuriwo threatened headmen Thomas Chinyowa and Jason Nhumbe in Marondera West. Shekede threatened to demolish newly built structures. It is alleged that Shekede accused headmen Chinyowa and Nhumbe for not adhering to Zanu PF values," said ZPP.

"Shekede accused the local traditional leadership of not vetting land seekers before selling them land. Shekede argued that newly resettled households would corrupt the community with oppositional ideologies."