Elections in Zimbabwe have for the past two decades been marred by alleged violence against opposition political party supporters. With the 2018 plebiscite barely a year away, victims of past violence are defiant that no amount of brutality will scare them away from voting for their preferred candidates.
By Mlondolozi Ndlovu
At a Heal Zimbabwe survivors or political violence meeting in Harare, victims of political violence from Mutoko, Muzarabani and other hotspots of political violence narrated their horrific experiences at the ends of party militia especially in the run up to the June 2008 Presidential election run-off.
Betha Tikazo (not real name) (42), from Ward 19 Mutoko East said she was raped and tortured resulting in her hand getting fractured.
“The 2008 violence was very difficult and it has disturbed our lives. As the country braces for elections in 2018, I encourage the people of Zimbabwe to vote resoundingly and not be deterred by intimidation,” she says.
A determined Tikazo who looked visibly pained says she can no longer sit properly as the other side of her buttocks was completely paralyzed by her assailants, adding that she has children who need food at home and another one who could not complete university due to her incapacity to generate income.
“I have kids. One of them finished university but has no job, another who has dropped out of university because there is no money. I encourage youths, women, grandmothers and fathers to vote in 2018,” she said.
Tikazo called on the government to protect victims of previous political violence arguing some of the perpetrators of worse political violence were walking freely in rural areas.
Sophia Manenji (46) from Muzarabani South narrated her horror story and how she suspects that the brutality she endured led to her giving birth to a pre-mature baby.
“I was supposed to give birth in March of 2002 but I was beaten up by Zanu PF supporters who suspected that I was an MDC-T supporter. We were displaced from Muzarabani together with my husband. I went to hospital around January of that year where due to complications, I gave birth to a pre-mature child,” said Manenji.
She however feels that attempts by ruling party to continue intimidating dissenting voices by denying them food aid, will not work this time around as people have learnt how to deal with political intimidation.
John Sikiwa who was the MDC-T candidate for Hurungwe-Magunje said he lost to a Zanu PF candidate and was shot on the 9th of June by a Zanu PF MP whom he identified as Ndambakuwa.
“I was attacked at around 3 am by a group of Zanu PF thugs led by Ndambakuwa as I tried to run away but was shot on my right leg. I reported the case to the police but to this day no efforts have been made to arrest these people, “says the visibly.
Sikiwa said he used to take care of his family through agriculture and welding, chores which he can no longer do as he is now paralyzed.
“My advice to the people of Zimbabwe is that let us unite. As for us in the MDC-T, we must register to vote. The problem is that the majority of our supporters are not registered, they must register. All genuine democrats must unite and fight for the Zimbabwean cause and come 2018 we will conquer,” he said.
Gogo Mediwa (74) of Muzarabani says even though she was a Zanu PF supporter, her home and all that she had were all burnt down after her son (identified as Matonhedze) was labelled an MDC-T supporter.
“I lost everything that I had because I was accused of being mother of a sellout. I am now poor and have to take care of orphaned children whose parents died because of violence,” said Gogo Mediwa.
