By Leonnel Mhuka
Citizens in Chimanimani West have joined forces to effect a citizen’s arrest of ZANU PF-affiliated violent thugs from the groups FAZ and Heritage, who were intimidating citizens.
In a video report received by Change Radio on the evening of August 18, 2023, a group of thugs identifying themselves as Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ), running a campaign called Heritage, faced a citizen’s arrest after defiant CCC peace monitors confronted the group and effected a citizen’s arrest and dragged them to the Nyanyadzi police station.
click here to watch the video report
They were reportedly moving from house to house with a book containing names of opposition leaders and supporters, beating and threatening them with disappearance and death.
This incident is one of many. Earlier on the same day in Bikita East, the same operations were carried out, and a group of thugs was driven out of communities.
Commenting on what happened in Bikita East, a CCC official based in Masvingo, Mr Struggle Nyahunda said: “FAZ must fall. The vigilant Bikita East youths confront the Heritage lunatics and some ZANUPF members who are terrorising the CCC members. This is Mbuya Nehanda B/C today” click here to see the post
With just 5 days before the election date, ZanuPF has come out in full force, enforcing violence, intimidation, and torture on CCC members, supporters, and leaders across the country.
ZanuPF, under Emerson Mnangagwa, brought in FAZ to run a parallel campaign for him across the country. However, instead of campaigning, the group is roaming around in villages, threatening and intimidating opposition supporters.
What makes it clearer that the group is receiving instructions from the president’s office is that the Zimbabwe Police have never issued a statement or taken any action to investigate this shadowy group.
Furthermore, many cases reported to the police have been met with no action at all, and in most incidencies, police refuse to open dockets against these offenders.
On the other hand, many opposition members have been arrested after challenging the presence of FAZ officials in polling stations. An example is that of CCC aspiring member of parliament for Chirumhanzu South, Hon. Patrick Cheza, and five others who spent days in police custody on allegations that included tearing a counterbook exercise book being used by a FAZ official to record names of people who were inspecting their names at polling stations.
Another example is that of a 51-year-old, Godson Matanda, who was arrested on June 1 following a verbal altercation with a FAZ member stationed at a polling station (Rafamoyo Primary School) during a voters’ roll inspection period.
According to the Human Rights Lawyers of Zimbabwe, “Matanda was charged with assault as defined in section 89(1)(a) of the Criminal Code. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that on June 1, 2023, at Rafamoyo Primary School in Gutu, Matanda assaulted Shamiso Madondo, a resident of Gutu, employed as a FAZ member and deployed at the school to record details of people inspecting the voters’ roll. Prosecutors alleged that Matanda arrived and started taking pictures of Madondo and other ZANU PF political party members who were at the school using his mobile phone. A misunderstanding reportedly arose after the ZANU PF supporters questioned why he was taking pictures of them. Matanda, prosecutors alleged, then assaulted Madondo during the altercation and accused her of being used by the ruling ZANU PF political party. Matanda, represented by Dereck Charamba of Ndlovu and Hwacha Legal Practitioners, and out of custody on bail, was convicted by Magistrate Panavanhu on August 11, 2023. The Magistrate sentenced him to serve 12 months in jail. However, Matanda will only serve 315 hours of community service after Magistrate Panavanhu suspended the jail term on the condition of good behavior and completion of community service.” read full report here
A sentence of 12 months given to someone who challenged the illegal presence and actions of these FAZ officials in polling stations clearly shows the judiciary system’s bias and raises alarm over the fairness of the coming election.
It’s also worth noting that FAZ is not an official organization to participate in or conduct elections in Zimbabwe.
Up-to-date gross human rights abuses by ZanuPF, aided by FAZ, are being recorded on a daily basis.
