MDC-T faces Zanu PF whiplash in Binga

Politics
TENSIONS have reached boiling point in Binga, where Zanu PF officials are being accused of forcing MDC-T supporters to hand over their party regalia with the intention of burning it, a situation which is reportedly about to spark violence in the district.

TENSIONS have reached boiling point in Binga, where Zanu PF officials are being accused of forcing MDC-T supporters to hand over their party regalia with the intention of burning it, a situation which is reportedly about to spark violence in the district.

RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR REPORTER

Binga is predominantly an MDC-T stronghold with the two constituencies, Binga North and South belonging to the opposition, while the council is controlled by the same party.

The Zanu PF actions were reported to have created tension in the district, particularly in Lusulu area, where the ruling party officials reportedly led by party former aspiring candidate for Binga North, Amos Munsaka, Benson Mudimba and Matabeki Mudimba, were accused of terrorising villagers.

Efforts to get a comment from Munsaka were fruitless as his mobile phone was unreachable.

The MDC-T councillor for the area, Themba Mukombwe, yesterday confirmed the plight of opposition supporters at the hands of Zanu PF.

“They are terrorising villagers,” he said.

“They are going around targeting known MDC-T supporters demanding T-shirts and party regalia with the face of party president Morgan Tsvangirai.

“These people are being forced to hand over the party regalia.”

Mukombwe said the regalia was taken last Friday, angering the villagers.

“People are phoning advising me about the terror,” he said.

“They are saying they are thinking of retaliating, which means there will be violence in Binga.”

The councillor said he tried to speak to Matabeki and advised him that their actions were dividing the people and creating unnecessary tension in the district.

“I asked him why they are doing so since this is not electioneering time,” he said.

“I told him that people said they will soon take the law into their own hands because they are now tired.”

This is not the first time that Zanu PF has been accused of terrorising MDC-T supporters, as in January they were accused of denying the villagers presidential inputs, accusing them of being MDC-T members, despite reports that they were forced to deliver their maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in Lusulu and have not been paid.

The situation was described as dire since the villagers had not planted this farming season because they could not buy inputs while their money was holed up at the GMB.

To add insult to injury, they were being denied inputs from the presidential inputs scheme, which were reportedly only being given to known Zanu PF supporters.