Zanu PF supporters shut out Chitungwiza mayor

Zanu PF supporters shut out Chitungwiza mayor

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By Staff Reporter

MARAUDING Zanu PF supporters have for the second day running barred Chitungwiza Mayor Misheck Shoko, council officials and workers from entering their offices demanding the mayor’s immediate resignation.

The ruling party supporters allege that Shoko, who was elected into office in
2002, has failed to address the problem of the town's erratic water supplies,
non collection of refuse and blocked sewer pipes.

On Tuesday, armed riot police had to be summoned to break up the demonstration.

The police also forcibly opened council gates to facilitate a visit to the offices by two ministers, Ignatius Chombo and Kembo Mohadi heading the Local Government and Home Affairs portfolios.

The two later met acting Town Clerk Amos Matanhike, and at their meeting they resolved that Shoko and all council employees must be allowed back.

It was not clear yet if the Zanu PF supporters would allow them back Wednesday.

Matanhike described the demonstrators, some of them carrying placards with the message “Shoko 100 percent sewerage”, as vicious.

“The demonstrators were very vicious. They could not allow anyone to enter the premises for two days. It is unfortunate that we are being caught up in a political wave. The problems we are facing are beyond our control," he told New Zimbabwe.com.

"For example we do not have fuel to carry refuse, and that's not a Chitungwiza issue but a national problem.”

He added that foreign currency was needed to buy sewer pipes.

One resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was surprising that when dispersing the demonstrators the police had used kids gloves when compared to their brutality when dealing with National Constitutional Assembly or MDC protests.

Two weeks ago, MDC supporters repelled the demonstrators when they staged a similar protest. The two sides were involved in running battles that saw one MDC supporter being arrested.

Traditionally, demonstrations against mayors elected on MDC tickets have been used as excuses by Chombo to either suspend or fire them. Currently, Mutare mayor Misheck Kagurabadza is on suspension after Zanu PF supporters demonstrated him on countless occasions.

Mudzuri was also suspended and subsequently fired after going through the same process.

Last year, the supporters went to the extent of locking Kagurabadza in his offices for hours without food or water. The demonstrators have often done so without seeking police clearance, as is the case with others.
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