MIDWEEK WATCH REPORTER
MASVINGO RURAL-Heavily armed anti-riot police and members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation Mashate Business Center and barred villagers in Masvingo central constituency from holding Nelson Chamisa Independence tournament.
The antiriot police arrived in a Mahindra from Rujeko Station and they were led by a Superintended who declined to identify himself, ward 20 councillor, Wisdom Tichazorwa told The Midweek Watch.
He said the black boots arrived soon after the netball teams had finished playing the first round and ordered the villagers to disperse as they could not hold an independence tournament parallel to the government sanctioned one being held in Chivi.
“The police told us that we could not hold an independence tournament when there is another one sanctioned by the government in Chivi, but we told them that we cannot join the one they were referring to because of the party slogans that they chant at the celebrations.
“It is against that background that we decided to have our own celebrations where we also chant our own slogans.
“The police stood its ground and we gave in for the safety of the villagers and regrouped to interact with several MPs from around the country who graced the occasion.
“Before that we had made some donations to villagers where we gave them seeds, knapsack sprayers and other things for their gardens,” said Cllr Tichazorwa.
Villagers from the constituency’s 10 wards had planned to host an independence celebration sports tournament at Njovo grounds and they had managed to pull resources towards the event.
The tournament excited youthful opposition politician Moses Mavhaire, who contested for the seat on a Citizens Coalition for Change ticket and decided to chip in by donating netball and soccer kits, shields and prize money.
However, the police felt the gesture by Mavhaire was a threat to national security and undermining the whole essence of independence celebration for opposition politicians to host a tournament at a time there is another government officiated provincial function in Chivi.
The police could not stop scores of villagers from interacting with the opposition politician as after being dispersed at Njovo grounds, the villagers re-grouped some two kilometers away from the business center and were addressed by the outspoken politician.
Mavhaire did not mince his words and said the country is celebrating 44 years of independence but the majority of people are not independent as their rights of freedom of association are being trembled up by the authoritarian ruling Zanu PF Government.
He vowed to continue working with the villagers in all developmental initiatives that uplift the living standards of the constituency.
The gathering was later joined by eight opposition legislators from across Zimbabwe who heaped praises on Mavhaire for making inroads and popularising the opposition movement in rural areas.
Masvingo Province acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Patinyu Masauso said he was not aware of the incident and promised to get back after contacting the officer in charge from the area. He had not done so until the time of posting the story.
