FAZ and ZANUPF have been tirelessly working to intimidate and frustrate CCC members throughout the country. In a recent incident, Mr. Chakanaka, an activist from Chipinge Central ward 9, was arrested on June 19th for allegedly tearing the t-shirt of Mr. Francis Dombo, a ZANUPF member.
He endured two days in unsanitary police cells before being released. The accused was ultimately freed at the magistrate court after the case was withdrawn. Mr. Francis Dombo asked for forgiveness, stating that the alleged offenses were not committed.
During an interview with Change Radio, Mr. Chakanaka, who remains resolute, shared, “He came to apologize in court after I had spent two days in police custody.”
He jokingly referred to himself as a war veteran now. Mr. Chakanaka is an official of CCC in Chipinge Central ward 9. Allegedly, Nyaradzo Guzura, an aspiring council candidate from ZANUPF, is closely collaborating with FAZ officials and the current ZANUPF ward 9 Councillor to intimidate opposition leaders in the area.
It is claimed that Guzura was imposed by ZANUPF leaders upon ward 9, lacking grassroots support.
REFLECTION
This report reveals a highly troubling pattern of arbitrary arrests and ZANUPF leaders manipulating the judiciary system. The arrests of CCC activists two nights before the nomination court show a concerted effort to silence alternative views.
The constant harassment and dissatisfaction experienced by CCC members around the nation, organised by both FAZ and ZANUPF, casts severe question on the political landscape’s impartiality.
Mr. Chakanaka’s story, in which he spent two days in filthy police cells before being freed, demonstrates the abuse and excessive hardship encountered by those targeted by ZANUPF.
The case’s later withdrawal and Mr. Francis Dombo’s prayer for pardon raise concerns about pressured statements and political manoeuvring.
Furthermore, Nyaradzo Guzura’s reported coordination with FAZ authorities and the ZANUPF ward 9 Councillor to threaten opposition leaders reveals a concerted effort to silence critical voices.
These activities not only undercut democratic norms, but also weaken public faith in the political system’s fairness and honesty.
Such abuses of power and tampering with justice must be denounced because they violate individuals’ rights and undermine the foundation of a just and equitable society.
