MIDWEEK REPORTER
CHIKOMBA- Chikomba Rural District Council (CRC) CCC Ward 11 Councillor Collen Zvarevashe is living in fear after security agents from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) allegedly threatened to eliminate him.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, Zvarevashe said his life was at stake following alleged serious threats from the CIO operatives based in the transit town of Chivhu.
“I am not safe and cannot peacefully serve my ward to the best of my ability. CIO agents are threatening me even on social media platforms especially in our residents association whatsapp groups.
“One security guy by the name …(name withheld) at one time came to my place during campaigns taking pictures and I asked him why he was doing that.
“Recently after this last week election, he said they have claimed Ward 7 seat and I was their next target.
“Opposition councillors here in Chikomba district are not safe at all and this compromises service delivery.
“Amos Reza died a mysterious death and we were told that he was involved in an accident, Ishmael Maukazuva was arrested in unclear circumstances and now I hear I am their next target,” he said.
In an interview, one of the CIO agents who declined to be named said no one was threatening the opposition councillor.
“No one is threatening him, I haven’t received such a report from my office otherwise as members of the security, we should be protecting him,” he said.
Based on recent reports, Chikomba Rural District Council is experiencing severe governance issues and political tension, including the suspension of opposition councillors and a high- level investigation into the ruling party council leadership.
Early this month, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe ordered an investigation into the Chikomba RDC chairperson and Zanu PF Ward 17 councillor, Israel Dhikinya. The investigation focuses on allegations of corruption, misconduct, and favoritism regarding the awarding of grain and seed transportation tenders.
Reports from 2024 and 2025 indicated that councillors in various rural areas, including Mashonaland East (where Chikomba is located), have faced intimidation and harassment from state security agents, often aimed at enforcing party loyalty or silencing dissent.
Four opposition councillors were suspended under unclear circumstances in 2024 by the late District Development Coordinator (DDC) Ishmael Mariga and Zvarevashe was amongst the four.
