News / National
ZAPU/ZIPRA to flush out Man'uqonde
28 Sep 2017 at 06:28hrs | Views
Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) War Veterans Association have warned war veterans to desist from being politically manipulated by Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) to coerce the citizenry to support ZANU-PF in its quest to win next year's elections.
This follows reports that signs of intimidation of the citizenry by some former freedom fighters who are allegedly being manipulated by ZANU-PF to coerce the electorate ahead of next year's harmonized elections have already emerged in areas like Marula and Madlambudzi Village in Matebeleland South province.
"We were told that anyone seen attending any rally organized by any political party other than ZANU-PF will immediately be reported and arrested by the police," said a villager, Pastor Moyo who became bold enough to approach and speak to the ZAPU leadership during an outreach meeting held recently at Madlambudzi Shopping Centre.
The ZANU-PF strategy to manipulate former freedom fighters to coerce the electorate to support or vote for ZANU-PF dates back to the 2008 Runoff where the perpetrators operated under the terms "man'uqonde" translated to "stand upright" in Matebeleland and "Short or Long Sleeve" in Mashonaland.
Speaking during the ZAPU outreach meeting at Madlambudzi Shopping Centre in Bulilima West District recently, ZAPU chairperson in Matebeleland South province Mathew Sibanda told war veterans to shun being manipulated by ZANU-PF to beat up or intimidate people in any way ahead of next year's elections.
"It has come to our attention that some of our colleagues are still being manipulated by ZANU-PF to execute selfish and evil agendas where they beat up people for not attending rallies or for not voting for ZANU-PF. We are appealing to all those war veterans to stop it immediately," said Sibanda.
Sibanda stated that they will not hesitate to confront any war veteran who is being influenced to perpetrate political violence, adding that to date; they had dealt with some of the culprits in Mangwe District in Matebeleland South.
"Once we hear of any former ZIPRA cadre threating civilians on behalf of ZANU-PF we will not hesitate to bring those to book so that the law takes its toll on them. A few weeks ago we were informed that in Marula the culprits had started to intimidate villagers with unspecified action and we simply went there to deal with them. They are now quiet," Sibanda said.
Moving on, Sibanda said it was sad that their comrades were being influenced to display a behavior that has tarnished the image of all former freedom fighters.
"Those comrades, especially those from ZIPRA will have to explain as to where they got that training from because in ZIPRA we were never trained to harass the citizenry. Safundiswa ukuthi ivoti kazulu iyacelwa kayitshayelwa muntu; translated to: we were taught that you have to plead with the electorate for their votes, instead of beating them up for it," Sibanda said.
This follows reports that signs of intimidation of the citizenry by some former freedom fighters who are allegedly being manipulated by ZANU-PF to coerce the electorate ahead of next year's harmonized elections have already emerged in areas like Marula and Madlambudzi Village in Matebeleland South province.
"We were told that anyone seen attending any rally organized by any political party other than ZANU-PF will immediately be reported and arrested by the police," said a villager, Pastor Moyo who became bold enough to approach and speak to the ZAPU leadership during an outreach meeting held recently at Madlambudzi Shopping Centre.
The ZANU-PF strategy to manipulate former freedom fighters to coerce the electorate to support or vote for ZANU-PF dates back to the 2008 Runoff where the perpetrators operated under the terms "man'uqonde" translated to "stand upright" in Matebeleland and "Short or Long Sleeve" in Mashonaland.
Speaking during the ZAPU outreach meeting at Madlambudzi Shopping Centre in Bulilima West District recently, ZAPU chairperson in Matebeleland South province Mathew Sibanda told war veterans to shun being manipulated by ZANU-PF to beat up or intimidate people in any way ahead of next year's elections.
Sibanda stated that they will not hesitate to confront any war veteran who is being influenced to perpetrate political violence, adding that to date; they had dealt with some of the culprits in Mangwe District in Matebeleland South.
"Once we hear of any former ZIPRA cadre threating civilians on behalf of ZANU-PF we will not hesitate to bring those to book so that the law takes its toll on them. A few weeks ago we were informed that in Marula the culprits had started to intimidate villagers with unspecified action and we simply went there to deal with them. They are now quiet," Sibanda said.
Moving on, Sibanda said it was sad that their comrades were being influenced to display a behavior that has tarnished the image of all former freedom fighters.
"Those comrades, especially those from ZIPRA will have to explain as to where they got that training from because in ZIPRA we were never trained to harass the citizenry. Safundiswa ukuthi ivoti kazulu iyacelwa kayitshayelwa muntu; translated to: we were taught that you have to plead with the electorate for their votes, instead of beating them up for it," Sibanda said.
Source - Bakidzanani Dube
