Zanu PF youths forcing people to attend a party meeting

Fear gripped Lake Chivero and its environs Friday as Zanu PF youths and people claiming to be war veterans went around forcing people to attend a party meeting.

The youths threatened unspecified action to those who failed to attend the meeting, NewsDay reports.

Business people in the area said in interviews at the lake yesterday that their workers had abandoned work to attend the party meeting out of fear following the recent invasion of the properties.

Those who attended the meeting said they were told to indentify pieces of land for cattle and pig rearing within the resort area and the party would simply grant them rights to the land under the indeginisation and empowerment drive.

Businesspeople and workers alike said in different interviews that business at Lake Chivero was at its all-time low as tourists feared political violence.

"Business is at its all-time low and we are yet to recover from the invasions a few weeks ago," a businessperson who requested anonymity said.

"We only have two tourists who came here a few days ago and they are off tomorrow. These threats of invasions won't do us any good."

Lake Chivero lodges and camps made international headlines recently after Zanu PF supporters and war veterans invaded the area under the guise of indeginisation and empowerment.

Zanu PF senior officials, including the party's Vice- President Joyce Mujuru condemned the invasions and apologised.

Aaron Mazvi, a war veteran leader in the area yesterday confirmed the meeting but said it was just a restructuring meeting that took place at his plot.

"It's a restructuring meeting for this branch and those saying Cde Zhuwao (Patrick) is addressing are lying," he said.