By Wezhira Munya
In a distressing turn of events, President Nelson Chamisa’s Chivi North election agents, Mr Ashley Gwangwava and Mr Darlington Nhapata, were arrested on the 24th of April 2024 by the Law and Order department of the Masvingo police. The arrest took place at Chivi Vuravhi Business Center near ward 7 polling station which was used during the 23rd August 2023 elections.
The charges against Gwangwava and Nhapata stemmed from an alleged physical altercation with Mr Aston Chomuyeke, a member of Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ) who was stationed at the FAZ desk near the ward 7 polling station. During the 23 August 2023 harmonized elections, FAZ members set up tables near the voting stations, coercing voters into revealing personal information such as their Identification Document Numbers and voting preferences.
Expressing his dismay, Mr Emmanuel Chidaushe, President Chamisa’s 2023 harmonized election candidate for Chivi North parliamentary seat, stated, “I was truly taken aback by the police’s actions in arresting our Chivi North election agents nearly a year after the harmonized elections. This is nothing but a clear case of intimidation, meant to instill fear among all pro-Chamisa lieutenants in Chivi North and beyond.”
Following this unfortunate incident, Mr Chidaushe promptly contacted the police to seek clarification on the arrests. He spoke with one of the officers involved, Simbiso Shumba, who assured him that the accused would be summoned to court on a date yet to be determined.
The Chivi constituencies have been marred by violence unleashed by Zanu PF against President Chamisa’s supporters. Numerous Chivi residents who expressed their support for President Chamisa have been unjustly arrested and some are still languishing in prison such as Mutimurefu prison in Masvingo on false charges.
It is disheartening to witness the persecution of individuals who were merely fulfilling their duties as election agents. The authorities must ensure a fair and just legal process, free from political bias, to safeguard the principles of democracy and protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, said top human rights lawyer and Masvingo urban member of parliament Honourable Martin Mureri.
