By Martin Muleya.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Villagers in Chigodora area, east of Mutare city have revealed that most of them who belong to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)Alliance said they are living in perpetual fear of reprisals from members of the ruling party Zanu Pf for supporting the ‘wrong party’.
Seven months after the harmonised elections were held where the incumbent President garnered two thirds majority against MDC A’s preferred candidate Nelson Chamisa, most opposition supporters in Chigodora area were contemplating relocating to other places for safety as they had had enough of the threats from members whom they allege belonged to Zanu Pf.
In an interview with this paper on the sidelines of the Joint Mobile Legal Aid workshop that was organised by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), Ward 15 Councillor William Zunga said while his mandate in the rural district council was to advance development , his mission had greatly been hampered by people whom he accused of throwing thus spanners rendering his plans useless in the process.
“We are being affected very much here. i was elected into the Mutare Rural District Council as a councillor through an MDC Alliance ticket, but members of the ruling Zanu Pf had made my life unbearable and also throwing spanners in my development agenda of advancing development in Chigodora area. Most of my councillors from my party have already deserted their houses for dear life and are living in hide-outs, thanks to the village heads who are causing confusion by telling their subjects not to follow our development agenda. Ever since we were voted into office we have been receiving threats and we are always on the run,” said Zunga.
Zunga highlighted that while his party was committed to work for the people of Zimbabwe to advance development, their experience in rural areas as members of the opposition party was in sharp contrast with what President Emmerson Mnangagwa had been preaching on the gospel of peace for the betterment of development in the country.
He appealed to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to remove all village heads who are fingered to be dabbling in partisan politics and fuelling confusion in rural areas.
Nancy Saurowe (49) a local villager in ward 15 concurred with Cllr Zunga’s sentiments adding that as a staunch supporter of MDC, she felt her rights were being trampled by those who were supporting the ruling party.
“We are not being treated as humans since we are labelled opposition party MDC supporters. Yes of course it is the party that i support since i have the freedom of choice as enshrined in the supreme law of the lan, but this is coming to me with a cost. Apart from that most women in this area suffer from physical assault from their husbands and have nowhere to report the matter particularly in situations where the offenders sometimes grease police officers and the matter would be swept away,” she bemoaned.
Transparency International Zimbabwe Legal Officer Tracy Mutowekuziva urged women who are facing any type of violations to approach the courts for a redress. She reiterated that most women in the rural areas were suffering silently as they are not privy to how the law works in Zimbabwe.
“As TIZ we have heard numerous cases ranging from maintenance, assault, inheritance wrangles, murder cases among a plethora of cases where women are given a raw deal because they do not understand the court proceedings. We have decided to hold this one day workshop to enlighten you through our Joint Mobile Legal Aid unpacking the legal proceedings in case you found yourselves being taken to court as accused or complainants in various matters”, noted Mutowekuziva.
Speaking at the same occasion Legal Aid Directorate administrator in Mutare Evelyn Ngorima said her office were open to offer legal advice to everyone for free. She also noted that her organisation is working closely with TIZ in the Joint Mobile Legal Aid project in fighting corruption as well as making sure that information related to the complicated court proceedings is unpacked particularly for women in the rural areas so that they make an informed decision if ever they decide to appear before the courts for redress.
Transparency International Zimbabwe Mutare, Accountability and Monitoring Committee member Samuel Matikiti said his organisation had already started rolling out projects like social accountability, access to justice campaign and the Joint Mobile Legal Aid was among the projects they were working on with people residing in the rural areas.
“We have projects in social accountability, access to justice campaign and the joint mobile legal aid where we want to unpack information relating to how this affect people’s livelihoods in our everyday life. We have done researches in various social sectors to establish which sectors are most prevalent with corruption as well. During this quarter we will be trolling out programmes to conscientise people on various forms of corruption and how it can be curbed.
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