Soldiers dabbling in the distribution of inputs in Masvingo

Masvingo - Members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) have reportedly remained on the ground under the guise of Operation Maguta in order to ensure that the distribution of maize seed is tilted in favour of Zanu PF ahead of the rainy season.

Informed sources said this week that ZNA troops have remained in the rural areas of Zaka, Mwenezi, Chivi and Gutu districts to man the GMB depots to ensure maize seed and other farming inputs are distributed to known Zanu PF sympathisers.

Meanwhile, the MDC national chairperson of the Women’s Assembly, Theresa Makone who was in Masvingo early this week, also lamented the presence of soldiers in the rural areas saying the army had digressed from its traditional role of protecting the citizenry.

“We have a partisan army and it is very unfortunate. We know that members of the ZNA are in the rural areas under the guise of Operation Maguta and the whole thing is meant to swing the grain distribution process in Zanu PF`s favour. The army should vacate the rural areas,” she said.

Also in Masvingo, Zanu PF has started to deploy members of its youth militia in rural areas to intimidate villagers in a bid to impose the Kariba draft Constitution on the people in the rural areas.

According to reports from various wards and districts in Masvingo province, militia gangs are advocating for the Kariba draft Constitution, which Zanu PF wants to foist on the people.

Some of the areas affected are; Masvingo Central, Chiredzi South and Mwenezi East.

The youth militia gangs are intimidating villagers and telling them they should adopt the controversial Kariba draft Constitution or else there would be violence in the area.

The MDC Masvingo provincial secretary for information and publicity, Dust Zivhave, confirmed the reports.

“I have received reports that Zanu PF militia gangs are threatening villagers in various parts of the province ahead of the Constitution-making process. We have to identify the trouble spots and expose the culprits.

“However, as a party we believe that the people should be given an opportunity to draft their own people-driven Constitution and we don’t subscribe to the Zanu PF notion that the Kariba draft should be used as a reference point in the drafting of the new Constitution,” said Zivhave.