Intimidation, threats dominated the electoral landscape in Mat South

Cases of intimidation, harassment and threats dominated the electoral landscape in Matabeleland South, according to a report by Zimbabwe Peace Project report.

Th ZPP says these cases of intimidation, threats and harassment demonstrated the ruling party’s tactics in rural communities to get votes.

“At Msizini village ward 3 of Umzingwane constituency, it was reported that a Zanu PF activist who is also a kraal head, Silas Nkala threatened to set ablaze the homestead of a villager. Reports indicate that the victim had made remarks that Mnangagwa and crew should step down and give Nelson Chamisa to lead the nation” read the report.

A similar case was recorded at Nyandeni Village 4 Mzimuni area, where Zanu PF activists Dennis Moyo and Bongani Mlilo warned citizens that all opposition supporters would be beaten and their homesteads set ablaze. The Zanu PF activists made these threats whilst conducting door-to-door campaigns. Furthermore, one of the known CCC members, was warned that he would to be visited at night and tortured. The CCC member is reported to have run away from his homestead that very night. In Gwanda North ward21 it was reported that a CCC activist was targeted and followed to her home by Zanu PF assailants. They drove to her house and began to chant slogans, ‘down with sellouts. The CCC activist ran out using a back door to the nearby bush for safety,” said ZPP.

Freedom of assembly and association violations were also recorded in Mtshingwe Resettlement ward 19 of Insiza North.

 “It was reported that on polling day Zanu PFactivists Japhet Mguni and Sichelesile Phiri forced citizens to visit the Zanu PF table which was mounted 300 metres away from the polling station. Citizens were warned that if they do not visit the desk it was going to be known that one voted for the opposition parties.

At Majulula Resettlement of Insiza North ward 13, Zanu PF activist Irene Dube also forced citizens to report to the Zanu PF desk before and after voting. Citizens were told that anyone who failed to vote andreport to the desk would be removed from the resettlement area.”

Cases of tearing of posters were also recorded in ward 3 of Beitbridge East, it was reported that Zanu PF activists Gaudentia Chabhongora and an Eddy went around tearing posters of CCC that were pasted at the District Municipal Office. Tearing of posters is an electoral malpractice.

The matter was reported to the police with RRB 5579460/16/8/2023. The culprits were arrested. In Gwanda Tsitaudze ward, it was reported that four citizens were unlawfully detained after they were accused of removing posters of Zanu PF candidates. ZanuPF activists reported the matter to the police with RRB 457321. They are due to appear in court.

The Southern Africa Development Community Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) preliminary report stated that the 2023 harmonised elections were maared by alleged voter intimidation tactics on the rural vote.

“The Mission was informed that the rural vote may be compromised by alleged intimidation attributed to a group called Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), which is said to be a quasi-security intelligence organisation. The group was said to have been deployed to wards and around 36,000 villages. The allegations were that people were intimidated to vote in a particular manner and were warned that it would be easy to determine who voted against certain parties” read the SEOM report