Zanu PF forces traditional leaders to head rural party structures

By Tichaona Sibanda
7 January 2008

Traditional chiefs in most parts of the Midlands province are being forced to take charge of cell branches of the ruling Zanu-PF party, in attempt to coerce villagers in rural areas to vote Zanu-PF, Newsreel learned on Monday.

Blessing Chebundo, the MDC MP for KweKwe, told us that headmen and chiefs are being forced to join ruling party structures starting from cell, up to district levels.

‘We have received reports of intimidation and we also have irrefutable evidence of chiefs and headmen being forced to become part and parcel of Zanu-PF. These are all well orchestrated moves by the regime to ensure they force villagers in rural areas to vote Zanu-PF,’ Chebundo said.

Chebundo’s allegations come in the wake of reports over the weekend of Zanu-PF tightening the screws on the operations of non-governmental
organisations perceived to be against the ruling party.

The Zimbabwe Standard reported that intimidation and harassment of NGO workers by Zanu PF youth militia in rural areas was increasing as the 2008 elections draw nearer.

Political harassment is pronounced in rural areas countrywide where Zanu PF purports to command most of its support. National Association for Non-Governmental Organisations spokesman Fambayi Ngirande told the paper they were concerned at the harassment of their affiliates.

He said; ‘We are worried by the increasing cases where workers of NGOs are seen as enemies of the State. The NGO Human Rights Forum has documented several such cases.’

The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said it has recorded increased cases of people being intimidated for their involvement in civil society activities,
ZPP said among the organisations targeted are the Civic Education
Network Trust, Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Women of Zimbabwe Arise and the National Constitutional Assembly.