Zimbabweans describe the terror campaign
Manicaland
Philemon is now scared to move around at night in his own neighbourhood in this eastern part of Zimbabwe. Even being at home is no longer safe and he lives in perpetual fear.
”Being at home or away at night can be the same, as one can be beaten up for being a supporter of a particular political party.
”The difference is that at home there are family members, unlike being out there with no one to witness your fate,” he says.
Philemon says he will nevertheless vote ”freely” in the presidential run-off come June 27.
”If anything people are now hardened. There is no turning back at this time,” he says.
Lloyd, a villager in Manica Bridge, says that despite the violence people are not relenting.
”The spirit in us is to go ahead until final victory. We have come a long way and what is left is a short distance,” he says.
Wonder, of Zimunya in Mutare South constituency, says that, while there has been little violence in the area, hunger is looming and intimidation is the order of the day.
”People have no food and the NGOs that used to give food aid no longer do so. We don’t know why. People are going to die,” he says.
”People are likely to show their dismay through the ballot, but it is likely that Zanu-PF and Mugabe will show the people the barrel if they dare vote overwhelmingly against him again. This is what is happening now in most parts of the country,” says Wonder.
Mashonaland Central
Zanu-PF accuses the villagers in Chiweshe district of being ”sellouts” who voted for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the March 29 elections.
Mbuya (62) was admitted to Howard Hospital after sustaining injuries in a beating frenzy by youth militia. She says she was dismayed that she was assaulted by mere ”children”.
”I was never into politics, but in May this year 10 local boys came to my home and ordered me to lie down. They assaulted me with rods and clenched fists until I was unconscious. They went on to torch my only hut.
”All my children are dead and that was the only home I had.”
She says she was terrified to go back and vote.
Tawanda likened the situation in his home area of Madziva, also in Mashonaland Central, to a war zone, adding that because they were no longer receiving food aid many people faced starvation.
”We were told that the cooking oil and the maize we used to receive was poisoned by whites to kill us because we are all Zanu-PF supporters and therefore the food was banned.
”We were told that we now have to rely on government aid and only showing loyalty to the ruling party would speed up the food distribution by the war veterans,” says Tawanda.
Mashonaland East
Donald (62), a known MDC activist, now walks with the aid of a stick after he was severely assaulted by a suspected Zanu-PF militia two weeks ago at his home near Murewa Growth Point in Mashonaland East Province.
”They swamped this homestead. They were many, some with sticks, axes and machetes, and they started beating me all over my body, demanding that I stop supporting a puppet party,” said Donald, whose back and legs are still swollen.
His two sons managed to flee and now live with a relative in Harare, about 80km away.
”They sent word that they are safe. I can’t run away leaving my livestock, homestead and everything I have worked for all my life. If they want they can come and finish me off,” says Donald, a veteran of the 1970s war of liberation.
Other war veterans and Zanu-PF militia have established what they call ”bases” in the province, where they torture MDC supporters. During the day they man roadblocks, demanding identification cards from passengers and motorists.
”If they discover that you don’t come from the province they will terrorise you, demanding to know the purpose of your journey,” says Martin, who was forced to return to Harare.
”Every night we are forced to attend pungwes [night vigils] at the bases and are ordered to sing liberation war songs praising President Robert Mugabe,” says Goodwills.
Locals are forced to ”donate” food for ”comrades” who stay at the bases, he says.
”They are given chickens, goats and, at times, cattle by frightened villagers. They slaughter and feast on them everyday,” says Goodwills. — CAJ News