Police questions Elections Resources Centre over meeting

Police last month questioned the Election Resources Centre official over the public meeting that was held in Sanyati.

This was revelead by Zimbabwe Peace Project in its report that on 6 February 2016, Election Resource Centre (ERC) coordinator in Sanyati was approached by police officers asking him about the ERC meeting held at ARDA, and questioning whether the organisation had permission to operate in the area.

"ERC director, Tawanda Chimhini, confirmed to ZPP that police had approached meetings by community action committees, which had been set by ERC to enable communities to hold their elected officials to account. Chimhini said the police wanted his organisation to have a Memorandum of Understanding with the local government, the legality of which ERC challenged. They (police) then asked to see ERC registration documents which ERC presented to them before letting the matter go and allowing the meetings to continue," reported ZPP.

ZPP said on 7 February 2016 at Mamina Business Centre, Ward 5, Mhondoro Ngezi, Taurai Matunga allegedly harassed Tapiwa Murugweni (not real name) (56) on allegations that his son was involved in ZimPF activities.

He was accused of supporting Joice Mujuru while he was a council worker and a Zanu-PF supporter. He was told that he got that job through Zanu-PF so he should remain loyal.

"On 12 February 2016, in Chegutu East, Elias Mudewairi an MDC-T supporter of Ward 23 was labelled a sell-out when he was visited by some friends from Australia," said ZPP.

"He was labelled a sell-out by David Ncube of Zanu PF. The Australian visitors were asked to name the person who gave them permission to come to Zimbabwe. The village head of Ward 23 was not happy to see white people in the area and was told that the visitors said they had received permission from the government. It was after confirmation that permission was from the government the people became friendly to the visitors. On 16 February 2016, Joseph Zvitiki, a Zanu-PF chairperson for Ward 11, Sanyati held a meeting with village heads and told them not to hold meetings with NGOs. This follows a meeting that was held by ERC at Roman Catholic Church. The meeting by some MDC-T members among other people, and so it was labelled an MDC-T meeting."

The organisation said on 17 February 2016, Pastor Mwandiambila of Prayer Champions an interdenominational prayer group was summoned to Pfupajena Police Station following a prophecy he had given during one of the services.

"It is reported that the service was done at Mwandiambila's house and it is during that service that he prophesied that the government was going to collapse. The police banned the prayer group from conducting any activities. The police could not be reached for comment," said ZPP.