The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has said it condemns political violence in Gutu, Masvingo which it said is being perpetrated by members of the ruling ZANU PF.
The party said it will remain focused on its goal to win the 2023 elections, TellZim reported citing CCC spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere. She is cited as saying:
No amount of panic and lawlessness by Zanu PF will get in the way of political change whose time has come. We condemn the escalation of political violence in Gutu that is being perpetrated by Zanu PF.
We remain focused on our task of registering citizens to vote in their millions so we win big in 2023. We have assembled peace and security teams to protect our members. Gutu and neighbouring communities remain defiant and are ready to do whatever it takes to win Zimbabwe for change.
Some context:
It is alleged that members of the ruling ZANU PF in Gutu North and Central constituencies are attacking individuals believed to be opposition party supporters.
Teachers at Machingambi Secondary School were on November 22, 2022, also subjected to alleged victimization at the hands of Zanu PF’s Gutu District Coordinating Committee (DCC) vice chairperson identified as Musara after participating in a data collection exercise on behalf of Australia-based academic Professor Felix Mavhondo, according to TellZim.
Musara allegedly accused teachers at the school of working for opposition political parties after establishing that Prof Mavhondo had tasked them to collect data on his project in form of questionnaires.
During the run-up to March 26, 2022 by-elections CCC supporters were attacked at a rally in Kwekwe leading to the death of Mboneni Ncube after being stabbed with a spear.
The Gokwe-Kabuyuni by-elections held on August 27 saw Nelson Chamisa’s convoy under attack allegedly by senior ZANU PF officials with Local government minister July Moyo allegedly involved.
Senior ZANU PF officials are on record threatening that 2023 will be worse than 2008 when members of the opposition MDC were attacked and killed in the run-up to the run-off election.
Political analysts say the 2023 elections will likely be bloody.