Fuzwayo campaign reports death threat

A member of the campaign team for independent candidate Mbuso Fuzwayo has allegedly received death threats from a suspected Zanu-PF activist, heightening tensions ahead of the Nkulumanne constituency by-election.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, when Colbert Mahonondo - part of Fuzwayo's mobilisation team in Nketa 6 - returned home after putting up campaign posters. According to the campaign team leader Thamsanqa Ncube, a man driving a Zanu-PF-branded vehicle parked at Mahonondo's gate and summoned him outside.

"When he came out, the activist threatened to burn his house to the ground, accusing him of mobilising Nketa residents to campaign for Fuzwayo," Ncube said.
"We received his panic call and rushed to his house. We found him very scared, considering the fact that Zanu-PF has always perpetrated such violence. We have been told that the matter has been referred to the police Criminal Investigations Department's Law and Order section."

Fuzwayo - who is also the Ibhetsu LikaZulu secretary-general - is contesting the by-election alongside Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial youth chairperson Free-dom Murechu; Sengezo Tshabangu-led CCC candidate Mothusi "Madlela Sikhobokhoho" Ndlovu; Esther Zitha, widow of late legislator Desire Moyo; and independent candidate Rodney Jele, reportedly backed by supporters aligned to Nelson Chamisa.

Other candidates include Ethel Sibanda (MDC-T), Alson Moyo (EFF Zimbabwe), Vivian Siziba (Zapu) and Nompilo Ncube Malala (Zimbabwe African National Congress).

Fuzwayo said his campaign has faced increasing hostility, with posters regularly torn down or removed by suspected Zanu-PF activists.
"There is a worrying lack of political tolerance among the contesting parties and candidates," he said.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo province spokesperson Archbold Chiponda had not responded to questions by the time of publication.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele referred inquiries to national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who could not be reached yesterday.

Meanwhile, in a related development, former Bulawayo CCC spokesperson and current Jele supporter Swithern Chiroodza has dismissed claims that Reason Munyapwa - who defected to Zanu-PF on Monday - was a key strategist in Jele's campaign.

A video of Munyapwa announcing his return to Zanu-PF circulated widely on social media this week, prompting speculation about internal disruptions.

"Contrary to claims by the pro-Zanu-PF platform Harare Times, Jele's December 20 by-election campaign has not suffered," Chiroodza said. "If anything, it is minus one sellout."

He added that Jele's campaign manager remains Reggie Mdluli, whom the candidate "fully trusts."

The Nkulumanne by-election is scheduled for December 20, with campaigning intensifying amid reports of intimidation and political defections.