The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai claims that a Zanu PF lawemaker, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, says there is no space for the opposition in Uzumba constituency, a stronghold of the ruling party.
“Mudarikwa is the Member of Parliament for UMP in the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe. He declared that there is no space for the opposition in UMP and also that Zanu PF is guaranteed of getting 80 000 votes in this particular constituency in the 2018 harmonized elections,” reads a statement issued by the MDC-T.
“The remarks by Mudarikwa, at the official handover of an irrigation scheme sponsored by World Vision in Mudzi district, cannot go unchallenged. Indeed, these thuggish and threatening remarks are clearly indicative of an intolerant and violent politician. It is well - documented in the annals of the political history of UMP, that this particular constituency invariably experiences extreme and barbaric politically motivated violence during every election since the year 2000.”
Hundreds of MDC supporters were murdered in cold blood in this particular district during the violent presidential election run off in 2008.
Many women in this district were savagely raped and sexually molested by suspected Zanu PF supporters.
The party said homesteads of MDC supporters were burnt down and millions of dollars’ worth of property belonging to opposition supporters was looted and destroyed.
“It is apparent that politicians in the mould of one Simbaneuta Mudarikwa actually aid and abet the acts of wanton political violence that are routinely perpetrated against MDC supporters in UMP. As a Member of Parliament, it is highly inappropriate and completely out of order for Mudarikwa to publicly boast that Zanu PF has virtually made his constituency a no go area for opposition political parties.
“For Mudarikwa to declare that Zanu PF will obtain 80 000 votes in the 2018 elections in a rural district with barely 20 000 registered voters also points to the fact that the Zanu PF regime is already in the process of rigging the 2018 harmonized elections.”
But Mudarikwa dismissed these remarks saying they were being made by losers who have failed to get votes in the district.
He claimed that Zanu PF is set to win once again in Uzumba.