ZANU PF forcing resettled farmers to join party structures
By Tererai Karimakwenda
04 October 2012
Resettled farmers in many districts of Chimanimani are being forced to join
ZANU PF structures, or risk losing the land they were given and being sent
back to their original home.
Local activist, Peter Chogura, reported that the strategy being used by ZANU
PF in resettled areas is working because they won more districts in the last
election. According to Chogura, officials from ZANU PF have been approaching
the local headmen and demanding a list of the farmers who are paying the
traditional tax in that constituency. These are families that were resettled
by government about four years ago, as part of the land redistribution
programme.
Chogura said they are offered positions within ZANU PF structures or private
companies owned by ZANU PF. But the offer also comes with a threat, which
basically gives the farmers no choice.
The latest incidents were reported by resettled farmers in ward 13
Chimanimani, in areas of Manatse and Nyaruwa. One farmer in ward 13 was
offered a position as the ‘agricultural price control officer’, which meant
nothing to him.
According Chogura, the farmer’s sisters were told to act as ‘cheerleaders’
at ZANU PF rallies and meetings. They were told that only MDC supporters
would refuse to help the party that gave them land.
The farmer implicated the ZANU PF district chairman for ward 13, Thomas
Chisiku and another known as Tsangamidzi, who works with ZANU PF legislator
for Chimanimani, Samuel Udenge.
According to Chogura, ZANU PF has also managed to convince many of the
resettled farmers that only Robert Mugabe has power to give them land, and
if he is voted out of office the farms will be returned to white farmers.
The activist warned the MDC-T that they will lose many supporters in the
resettled areas if they do not focus on this ZANU PF strategy and find ways
to educate the resettled farmers.