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BY LESLEY WURAYAYI
POLITICAL violence is still rife in Shamva in Mashonaland Central province despite the establishment of an organ to reconcile and integrate affected communities four years ago.
Villagers suspected to be sympathetic to MDC-T in Shamva, one of the areas that experienced unprecedented political violence during the 2008 elections, continue to be victimised because of their political affiliation.
Scores of people were killed in the area during the 2008 violent elections and those that survived are still suffering from the trauma of being tortured, raped or seeing relatives getting killed.
Villagers who spoke to The Standard recently, professed ignorance on the existence of the organ on national healing, reconciliation and integration (ONHRI), a department in the inclusive government that is supposed to reconcile victims of political disturbances since the pre-colonial era.
“We don’t even know what the process entails, so we need to be educated as to what it entails,” said one villager, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
The villagers said they are saddened by the possibility of elections taking place this year or next year because they fear a repeat of the 2008 violence.
The MDC-T claimed that at least 200 of its supporters were butchered by suspected security agents and Zanu PF supporters during that time.
Another villager, Memory William, said she has been constantly harassed by Zanu PF supporters since her son, Dickson Tembo, was ejected from the Border Gezi Youth Training programme in July last year on allegations that he was an MDC-T activist.
“Life has become unbearable for us in the village. Now I stay with relatives in town where we can have peace of mind,” said William.
Political instability has stunted development in the area, as donors fear for the lives of their employees.
Recently, some Zanu PF youths raided a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was distributing fertilizers and maize seed in Madziwa village, resulting in the intended beneficiaries failing to get the agricultural inputs.
Isaac Chidavaenzi, executive director of Chengaose Foundation Trust, who was part of the delegation that had gone to Madziva to distribute the farming inputs, deplored the youths’ behaviour.
“Ten families had their supplies raided by the rampant youths and until now they haven’t received their fertilizers, as police appear reluctant to recover the inputs,” said Chidavaenzi.
Political commentators said the situation in Shamva is reflective of the state of affairs in most parts of the country, where cases of political violence are on the increase following talks of holding polls this year or next year.
ONHRI co-chairperson Moses Mzila-Ndlovu last week conceded that the organ had not done much in educating people on the need for political tolerance and reconciliation.
“We are trying to set up a national peace reconciliation council and once it’s set up, we will have a mechanism of disseminating and reaching out to affected people.”
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