20 December 2021
Prosperity Sikhosana
In a meeting called at Mawungwa township, a Zanu-PF Councillor for ward 24 Gutu threatened to withhold food and other government aid from people who attended the funeral of an MDC activist.
Councillor Mathias Takamira Rashai called a meeting a week after MDC political activist died during political violence, to address the participants of the funeral.
He was allegedly quoted saying that the singers and attendants of the funeral and those chanting MDC slogans “are banished from getting government aid of any form”.
According to The Mirror, Rashai allegedly declared that MDC was banned in the ward.
In an interview with Masvingo Mirror, Rashai confirmed to holding a meeting but dismisses the idea that he banned MDC supporters from getting aid.
The MDC activist who passed on during the political violence was Nyasha Zhambe Mawere.
He had attended an event which had been graced by the presence of the party’s leader Nelson Chamisa in Gutu, Masvingo.
He succumbed to injuries due to violent attacks by alleged Zanu-PF supporters who have been accused of inciting violent battles with their MDC rivals as they seek to prevent Chamisa from holding rallies.
He was allegedly seized by Zanu-PF supporters who “besieged” him and left him for dead.
Villagers took him to Gutu Rural District Hospital where he was treated before being taken to Harare where he eventually died.
After his death, there has not been any arrests even though the names of suspects and video footages have been made available by the public.
Rashai, the Councillor is also said to have threatened the deceased’s brother Onesimo Zhambe for wearing an MDC t-shirt at the funeral.
The brother, Onesimo has confirmed the threats and said he fears for the villagers who attended his brother’s funeral.
Zim GBC News