Terrence Mawawa

Traditional leaders in Zaka District are openly chanting Zanu PF maxims and forcing villagers to attend ruling party meetings.

Villagers in Zaka West Constituency have expressed concern at the rampant intimidation of the electorate by kraal heads and Zanu PF activists.

The traditional leaders are also instructing villagers to vote for President Emerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF candidates in the July 30 elections.

According to Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) peace committee members in Zaka District, ward 33 traditional leaders last week forced villagers to attend Mnangagwa’ s rally in Masvingo.

In a statement released yesterday COTRAD urged traditional leaders to desist from exercising their duties in a partisan manner.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to guard against the culture of violence so that Zimbabwe remains a peaceful country.

We condemn the partisan involvement of traditional leaders in active politics because it is unconstitutional, dangerous and detrimental to democratic processes.

Section 281(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe clearly states, that traditional leaders must not participate in partisan politics.

Political party members should mobilize their members in a peaceful manner,” read the statement.