Zimbabwe’s capital city- Harare residents who are informal traders at various market places in the much-populated high-density suburb of Mbare were recently forced to camp at a ruling ZANU PF base in the same area, so as to ‘show their patriotism’.

The affected people are traders at the popular Mbare Musika- where agricultural and basic commodities are sold and Mupedzanhamo market, which mainly houses clothing traders.

One affected resident and trader Hazvinei Musare said they spent three days at the base where they were forced to campaign and urged to vote for President Robert Mugabe in the upcoming June 27 presidential election run-off.

“During the day, the party leaders would ‘teach us’ what they term ‘Gwara reMusangano’ (The Party’s Ethics and Guidelines).”

“In the chilly evenings, we would be made to sing and chant ZANU PF slogans.”

“The ZANU PF people came in huge numbers and drove us out of the market place at once. They threatened us with unspecified action if we didn’t follow their orders,” she said, with a sad face.

Currently, many opposition party supporters are reportedly being murdered on a daily basis, whilst in some cases ZANU PF supporters are killed in clashes or revenge battles.

Mugabe faces stiff competition for the presidential seat as he will battle it out with the main opposition- MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai- who won the first round of the election held on March 29 this year.

Musare said during the three days at the camp- they didn’t receive adequate food and blankets considering this winter season.

“We also didn’t have clothes to change and even taking a bath was a problem.”

“We were released only after almost all of us refused to take more orders indicating we needed to go to our homes- for a normal life,” she said.

Traders at Mbare Musika and Mupedzanhamo markets got market stalls and stands through a ZANU PF ticket.

The trader says as for her part- she is not a ZANU PF supporter but had to act as if she is one so as to get a stand to sell her goods at Mupedzanhamo market.

“I did it because I have to fend for my family. I cannot sit at home and besides these two market places are the most popular- for many ordinary Zimbabweans.”

“Now, after this incident, I am thinking of just quitting trading at this market place. It is just not fair for the party to treat citizens like that,” she added.

On Wednesday, at a rally in the high-density suburb of Mabvuku- Mugabe strongly emphasised he is going nowhere, and will not leave the country to be ruled by Tsvangirai.

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