FEATURE: UMP ravaged by political violence

A DRIVE to Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP), about 130km from Harare is no longer as rosy as it used to be as the traffic of people along the roads is low and homesteads are deserted.

What one sees are trucks full of cheering political party supporters juxtaposed by sorrowful faces of people maimed, tortured and beaten in cases of politically motivated violence.

Many have lost material possessions and there’s been loss of animal as well as human life. UMP has become a dangerous place to visit, live or work in.

The latest targets have become teachers and civic educators. Chitimbe Primary and Secondary Schools have had a massive exodus of teachers fleeing for their lives against unruly gangs of Zanu PF and MDC supporters moving around the communities abducting, intimidating, beating and murdering people. Magunje High School, about 4km from Chitimbe Secondary School has lost 3 teachers in the last seven days and fears are that by the end of the term villagers would have taken over the teaching process as teachers cannot stand the violence.

Reprisal and counter-reprisal violence is now characteristic in the area.

One such victim of this violence is Mr Musakwa, a local businessman whose property was destroyed and house burnt for voting MDC in the Nhakiwa area, according to unconfirmed sources. A local headman in the Mutengambiri Village, Mr Saul Mutengambiri, who supports Zanu PF, was also a victim of politically inspired violence. He was abducted and tortured.

In the Manyika area, that houses Uzumba High School, most villagers go to their homes just before the sun sets to have their supper and retreat to bushes for better night sleeps for fear of having their huts erased by fire whilst sleeping at night. Recently, a woman was gang raped whilst her husband looked on, who was later severely beaten before they destroyed most of their property.

But one questions, ‘What is wrong with supporting the MDC or Zanu PF?’

If the country allowed for the registration of the MDC and Zanu PF as political parties, why should violence be condoned by anyone and why should they be victimized for voting for their party of choice?

Today’s terror and violence cannot go unchallenged. Zimbabweans have a right to be who they want to be without victimization.

Zanu PF provincial information secretary for Mashonaland East, Kenneth Mutiwekuziva speaking in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, said it was time Zimbabweans learnt to tolerate political differences and let their votes determine the country's political future.

"We, as Zimbabweans, are brothers and sisters. We should bury our differences and focus on national development, as it is the only way we can emancipate ourselves. In Mashonaland East, many cases of political violence have been reported, which include kidnappings, torching of houses and torturing people for wearing their party's regalia. We urge our people to desist from such activities.”

Such calls should be taken seriously and not remain at the rhetoric level.

info@thezimbabweguardian.com