Opinion / Columnist
MDC; ZANU PF battle to control Zhombe
05 Oct 2021 at 09:31hrs | Views
The opposition MDC Alliance and the ruling party ZANU PF are reportedly embroiled in a vicious territorial battle to control the rural outskirts of Zhombe district.
Information reaching this reporter indicate that the MDC has launched a strategy to gain ground in the Midlands province a strategy which was reportedly hatched by newly appointed Vice Chairman and former Deputy Minister of Local Government Sesel Zvidzai who said the party must take the battle to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's home Province.
Zvidzai reportedly birthed a plan to dismantle ZANU PF's hold on traditional leaders. Traditional leaders preside over rural areas which have been dubbed a ZANU PF stronghold.
"The MDC is on the warpath gaining ground in the rural areas through recruiting headmen and village heads who are key towards mobilization at grassroots level, "said an MDC source from Zhombe.
Zhombe district is known for chaos after Maxwell Ncube who was the MDC N (Welshman Ncube) director for elections in 2008 Maxwell Ncube and Edson Ncube were allegedly attacked at Zhombe shopping Centre and blamed the attack on Zanu PF.
In 2011 Maxwell Ncube was reportedly abducted and later found dead allegedly with the body half buried in a shallow grave and his head covered with a sack in Malamulela village.
Maxwell Ncube was from family which claims the Headman Nduku title in Zhombe.
Reports further indicate that under the Zvidzai strategy MDC through its surrogate organisations has managed to influence Chief Malisa who caused the appointment of Munashe Dube to serve as Headman Nduku without consulting the Ncube family.
A ZANU PF official from the Province who spoke on condition of anonymity said the MDC is gaining ground and ZANU PF members now fear for their lives in Zhombe after they were threatened by one Willmore Ncube who was appointed to serve as assistant to the new headman. Willmore allegedly threatened ZANU PF members in Zhombe telling them that a new broom was coming and ZANU PF will be swept away from Zhombe.
Willmore Ncube is reportedly to be a brother to one Edson Ncube who is said to be gunning for the MDC district chairmanship in Zhombe and he is also rumored to be eyeing a rural district council seat.
The Ncube family has been embroiled in a feud over the rightful headman Nduku.
MDC officials in the district are said to be backing Munashe Dube who was appointed in November 2020 but has not been installed as the family continues to wrangle over the rightful occupant of the throne.
"Zhombe villagers who belong to ZANU PF are not happy with the appointment and they have written letters to the Midlands PDC, the Minister of State Larry Mavhima who have ignored the concerns of the villagers." The ZANU PF official said.
Munashe Dube is set to be installed as Headman Nduku on the 10th of October.
Chief Malisa is said to have openly admitted that he had sent a proposal to the Midlands PDC to have Munashe Dube installed on the 10th of October.
Information reaching this reporter indicate that the MDC has launched a strategy to gain ground in the Midlands province a strategy which was reportedly hatched by newly appointed Vice Chairman and former Deputy Minister of Local Government Sesel Zvidzai who said the party must take the battle to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's home Province.
Zvidzai reportedly birthed a plan to dismantle ZANU PF's hold on traditional leaders. Traditional leaders preside over rural areas which have been dubbed a ZANU PF stronghold.
"The MDC is on the warpath gaining ground in the rural areas through recruiting headmen and village heads who are key towards mobilization at grassroots level, "said an MDC source from Zhombe.
Zhombe district is known for chaos after Maxwell Ncube who was the MDC N (Welshman Ncube) director for elections in 2008 Maxwell Ncube and Edson Ncube were allegedly attacked at Zhombe shopping Centre and blamed the attack on Zanu PF.
In 2011 Maxwell Ncube was reportedly abducted and later found dead allegedly with the body half buried in a shallow grave and his head covered with a sack in Malamulela village.
Maxwell Ncube was from family which claims the Headman Nduku title in Zhombe.
Reports further indicate that under the Zvidzai strategy MDC through its surrogate organisations has managed to influence Chief Malisa who caused the appointment of Munashe Dube to serve as Headman Nduku without consulting the Ncube family.
A ZANU PF official from the Province who spoke on condition of anonymity said the MDC is gaining ground and ZANU PF members now fear for their lives in Zhombe after they were threatened by one Willmore Ncube who was appointed to serve as assistant to the new headman. Willmore allegedly threatened ZANU PF members in Zhombe telling them that a new broom was coming and ZANU PF will be swept away from Zhombe.
Willmore Ncube is reportedly to be a brother to one Edson Ncube who is said to be gunning for the MDC district chairmanship in Zhombe and he is also rumored to be eyeing a rural district council seat.
The Ncube family has been embroiled in a feud over the rightful headman Nduku.
MDC officials in the district are said to be backing Munashe Dube who was appointed in November 2020 but has not been installed as the family continues to wrangle over the rightful occupant of the throne.
"Zhombe villagers who belong to ZANU PF are not happy with the appointment and they have written letters to the Midlands PDC, the Minister of State Larry Mavhima who have ignored the concerns of the villagers." The ZANU PF official said.
Munashe Dube is set to be installed as Headman Nduku on the 10th of October.
Chief Malisa is said to have openly admitted that he had sent a proposal to the Midlands PDC to have Munashe Dube installed on the 10th of October.
Source - Mandla Ndlovu
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