By Wezhira Munya
The Citizens Coalition for Change [CCC], broke a 43-year-old history by managing to be the first opposition party to field all council and parliamentary candidates in Mwenezi.
This political milestone by CCC has caused ZANU PF to press the panic button, and they [ZANU PF] have resorted to violence and intimidation.
In Mwenezi West, ZANU PF and FAZ [Forever Associates of Zimbabwe] have escalated their threats against CCC Mwenezi West candidate, Mr. Brilliant Chifumuro, his family, and CCC aspiring councillor, Ms. Philisiwe Moyo, with violence.
Mr. Chifumuro narrated, “I have received calls from concerned citizens in Mwenezi West daily, wherever the ZANU PF and FAZ team visit. They always ask for my whereabouts, sending messages to the public that they are looking for and intend to beat me. Their [FAZ and ZANU-PF]’s idea is to send a message of fear and intimidation to the electorate.”
Mr. Chifumuro further said, “On another incident, ZANU PF Mwenezi West aspiring member of parliament, Priscilla Moyo, the wife of Central Intelligent Office [CIO] Director-General, paraded my mother at the rally in front of all the people. My mother was introduced as the mother of a rebellious son who chose to stand as a CCC member of parliament in the rural farming area of Mwenezi West Constituency.”
In addition, Mr. Chifumuro narrated that, “My mother was threatened and humiliated in front of all villagers and was taken as an example of a bad mother who failed to warn her child against fighting ZANU PF.”
Mr. Chifumuro commented that his family and relatives were asked to desist from associating with him on the basis that he is contesting as a CCC member of parliament in Mwenezi West Constituency, which ZANU PF and FAZ described as taboo and unheard of in Mwenezi West Constituency.
In another story of ZANU PF intimidation, Mwenezi West Ward 11 CCC aspiring councilor, Ms. Philisiwe Moyo, received threats of unspecified actions from ZANU PF members and FAZ at her homestead in Rushangarumwe area.
Mazhambe, a ZANU PF DCC chairperson, and the FAZ team visited her [Moyo] at her place of residence with the intention of dealing with her for standing as a CCC councilor in the ward.
“Circumstances are that the ZANU PF and FAZ team arrived at my home around 7 PM yesterday. I was not at home, and they left a message stating that they have been anxiously seeking me as they wanted to carry out unspecified actions against me,” said CCC aspiring councilor Ms. Moyo.
She further said, “They informed my neighbors to inform me that they [ZANU PF members] wanted to beat me for accepting CCC’s nomination to stand as its candidate.”
Today, aspiring councilor Ms. Moyo reported that all of her ducks were found dead in the morning, raising suspicion that they could have been poisoned by ZANU PF members.
Ms. Moyo is now in hiding for her safety.
Ms. Moyo and Mr. Chifumuro’s campaigning programs are being affected by ZANU PF and FAZ. Mr. Chifumuro said that Ms. Moyo and his posters are being destroyed by ZANU PF.
A few days ago, the police fired tear gas at CCC members who had gathered at Rutenga Business Centre to hear President Chamisa addressing a campaign rally.
This disruption of President Chamisa’s campaign rally means the political playing field is not fair.
A few weeks ago, one of Mwenezi West independent candidate’s car was alleged to have been burnt by ZANU PF members.
