The Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change has dismissed remarks by Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe legislator, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa that opposition parties have no space in his constituency saying it is highly inappropriate and completely out of order for him to publicly boast that Zanu PF has virtually made the constituency a no go area.
Recently addressing people at a handover of irrigation scheme sponsored by World Vision in Mudzi, Mudarikwa remarked that there was no space for opposition parties in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe adding that Zanu PF is guaranteed of getting 80 000 votes in this constituency in the 2018 harmonized elections.
Responding to Mudarikwa’s remarks, MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said that these remarks cannot go unchallenged.
“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,” said Gutu.
Gutu accused the ruling Zanu PF for the 2008 election violence in Mashonaland east.
“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 known Zanu PF political thugs and hoodlums. The 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 mold 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,” he said.
