A number of
retired and serving members of the police, army and the CIO took part in the
primary elections but only to harvest thorns. In Chimanimani East, Charles
Muresherwa lost to Munacho Mutezo while in Chimanimani West, CIO operative Fred
Hlabiso lost to incumbent member Samuel Undenge. Earlier this year, Muresherwa
was leading a violent campaign against villagers. More recently, he was
travelling around his constituency with youths dolling out cabbages and small
packets of salt as part of his campaign gimmick.
He has been
accused of conducting semi-military training for Zanu (PF) youths in the run up
to the 2008 elections. Muresherwa, who is also a war veteran, reportedly set up
semi-military bases in the area where Zanu (PF) youths were being
indoctrinated. He is said to have moved around the constituency brandishing an
AK 47 and intimidating MDC supporters. “Muresherwa traumatized a lot of people,
including Zanu (PF) supporters, and it was obvious that he was going to lose
the elections,” said a villager who preferred not to be named. “Some of us
voted in the primaries just to make sure that he did not win. Even if he had
won the primaries, he was going to be embarrassed in the elections because of
the suffering he inflicted on the people.” The Zimbabwean could not get a
comment from him but he has denied involvement in military campaigns in the
past.
Another
senior army official who bit the dust in the primary elections was Tenias Shava
who lost to Joram Gumbo in Mberengwa West. During the 2008 elections, Shava
reportedly led a group of soldiers and Zanu (PF) youths to torch huts belonging
to MDC supporters. In Shurugwi North, Robert Nyathi, another CIO operative,
lost to Francis Nhema in the primaries. Nyathi plans to run as an independent
in the constituency, a decision observers say will divide the party vote and
give MDC-T, represented by Onismas Manungo, an easy ride. Senior army officials
in Chivi, Bikita and Chivhu were also unsuccessful.
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