By Dr Takavafira Zhou
Using threats to coerce people to vote for any political party is no longer tenable in developing countries. Zimbabwe is no exception. Sadly, Mberengwa seem to be locked behind the bars of prejudice, parochialism and narrow-mindedness with some rogue elements totally throwing the constitution of Zimbabwe the wind.
An organisation known as FAZ that is an appendage of Zanu pf seem to be in the overdrive mode of berating threats in Mberengwa. Last week a FAZ team commandeered villagers in Magodia, Robi, Tivafire, Sinyama, Majuta and Matibhini. Matibhini village had few attendees and a plan was designed to intimidate the villagers, starting with the village head who was instructed to commandeer villagers under his jurisdiction to attend a meeting on 8 July 2023. The FAZ members are led by Gumede twins, Gambarashe Mabvumba and Nomore Ncube and thrive on intimidating villagers for political expediency.
A Zanu pf youth, Mosi Moyo Mangilazi, has also attained notoriety for moving around villages at night berating obsenities and threats against real and perceived CCC cadres and promising to burn their homesteads. Reports indicate that he enjoys unfettered support from a Zanu pf branch chairperson, Kefasi Matutu, and Julius Kanisa.
We want to reiterate that partisan politics must never divide the people of Mberengwa who share the common denominator of poverty and underdevelopment. Acidic politics and partisan politics will not take the people of Mberengwa anywhere. Rather, the people of Mberengwa must unite in demanding appropriate tapping and harnessing of their natural resources (particularly lithium, platinum, chrome, copper, lime, antimony, emerald, tantalite, iron ore) for sustainable development.
Sustainable development knows no political party. Partisan politics hadziswe mudura. Vanhu vakasununguka kusupporter nekuvhotera party yavanoda sezvinotaurwa nebumbiro renyika yeZimbabwe. Belonging to different political parties must never be a source of conflict. Our unity in diversity in Mberengwa must foster development against acidic politics of threats, thuggery and thievery that has entrenched poverty, underdevelopment of development in Mberengwa. Unless we unite in our diversity we will perish as fools in Mberengwa. Let the 2023 elections be free, fair and credible and the best candidates emerge victorious in the best interest of Mberengwa and Zimbabwe. Better Mberengwa and better Zimbabwe are possible in our life time.
*Dr Takavafira M. Zhou*
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