Head of chief’s council accused of inciting genocide

By Tererai Karimakwenda
02 February 2007

The Tsvangirai MDC has accused chief Fortune Charumbira, president of the Chiefs Council, of actively campaigning for the ruling party ahead of a by-election due in Chiredzi South in February. MDC Secretary for Information Nelson Chamisa said Charumbira told all chiefs in the area to make sure MDC supporters do not get food aid because they are "sell-outs." By doing so in a nation plagued by widespread starvation, Chamisa said the traditional leader is actively inciting genocide.

Harassment and violence against opposition supporters is nothing new in Zimbabwe , especially during elections. The ruling party has been using food as a political weapon against the opposition around the country. Some shops owned by ZANU-PF supporters refuse to sell to MDC supporters. And jobs and opportunities controlled by ruling party chefs have been reserved for their supporters only.

Chamisa said: “It is a systemic well calculated and well coordinated strategy at the heart of ZANU-PF machinations to make sure that all the people who do not believe in the ZANU-PF gospel are labelled satanic and become victims and targets of their agents.”

Traditional leaders around the country have been accepting vehicles, fuel, food, cash and other gifts from the ruling party in exchange for their loyalty. They also receive a monthly allowance. A statement released by the MDC said: “We believe that food aid should never be politicised. We believe that chiefs and headmen should leave politics to politicians and stick to their tradition of simply being custodians of our culture and our morals.”