Masvingo Correspondent
Masvingo – Aaron Pedzisai, an 81-year-old former ZANU-PF ward secretary from Mushagashe near Masvingo, has publicly condemned the ruling party, describing it as a “den of thieves” and calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign.
In an emotional interview with Masvingo Mirror, Pedzisai expressed deep frustration with Zimbabwe’s leadership crisis, comparing the suffering of citizens to that of the Israelites in Egypt.
“We are crying like Israelites in Egypt. Emmerson must step down. We need new leadership to free us,” he said.
Pedzisai, who once supported Mnangagwa during the 2017 coup that ousted former President Robert Mugabe, said the current administration has failed the nation. He lamented the mass exodus of Zimbabweans fleeing economic hardship, with millions becoming economic refugees abroad.
“What a big letdown. Emmerson must step down. Our children in their millions have become economic refugees all over the world, and many perish there,” Pedzisai said.
“We need young leaders, not old men like us. Mnangagwa is doing nothing for the people, and the truth is that my party is now a den of thieves. This is painful to the whole country.”
His remarks highlight growing discontent within ZANU-PF and among Zimbabweans weary of persistent economic struggles and political stagnation.
ZANU-PF Activists Ordered to Vacate Invaded Farm
In a separate development, ZANU-PF losing candidate Thomas Chidzomba and three other party members have been ordered to vacate a farm they allegedly seized in Chinhoyi.
Chidzomba, who contested the Chinhoyi constituency in the August 2023 elections, alongside Elington Chanetsa, Bruno Elias, and Norbert Mawere, reportedly took over Subdivision 1 of Manenga Dundrennam Farm, dividing the 578.54-hectare property among themselves.
However, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development confirmed that the farm lawfully belongs to D B Bosman. In a June 6 letter, Lands Secretary Obert Jiri stated:
“This letter serves to confirm that D B Bosman is the bona fide beneficiary of S/D 1 of RE of Dandrennan of Manengas in Makonde district, Mashonaland West. The farmer was allocated the plot on 30 September 2004.”
Following the directive, Makonde district lands official Wilson Muchenje instructed Chidzomba and his associates to leave immediately.
“He must move away immediately from this piece of land, and the Department of Land Management will try to find land for him somewhere,” Muchenje said.
The dispute began on April 5 when Chidzomba and his group allegedly invaded the farm. Although the case was brought before Chinhoyi magistrate Kudzai Kapurura, the State withdrew charges on May 16 after Chidzomba’s lawyer, Tungamirai Chamutsa, argued that his client held a power of attorney from former deputy minister Kindness Paradza. However, Paradza later revoked the authority.
Bosman has since accused prosecutors of mishandling the case, alleging bias in favor of the accused.
Meanwhile, Bosman is also facing renewed allegations linking him to the 2022 death of a 12-year-old boy, Saurance Moffat, who was reportedly run over by a combine harvester on the farm. Bosman denies the claim, calling it a smear campaign by the invaders.
“The farm invaders are bringing up the closed murder case to intimidate me so that I don’t fight for my farm,” he said.
The murder case was officially closed in 2024 after investigations found no evidence linking Bosman to the incident.
The land dispute underscores ongoing tensions between legal landowners and political figures accused of illegal farm seizures, a recurring issue in Zimbabwe’s contentious land reform history.
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