Mother, son in trouble after attending unsanctioned meeting

News Writer 

A MOTHER and her son from Bango village in Plumtree, Matabeleland South province reportedly regret the day she decided to attend an unsanctioned Citizens Coalition for Change meeting that was held in their village, as they have been subjected to constant harassment since.

According to villagers, Chipo Ndlovu is known in the village for buying and selling clothing and groceries, operating from Nlondo Business Centre.

On the fateful day, on 9 June 2023, Chipo, attended the unsanctioned meeting, as a means to take advantage of the huge numbers to sell her wares.

However, that decision turned out to be the beginning of a nightmare.

“We know Chipo as someone who is only interested in her clothing and grocery business, which is why she innocently attended that meeting. However, on the night of the meeting, she together with other villagers were beaten and eventually arrested with no charge at all, their crime- we understand- was attending that unsanctioned meeting.

“They were eventually released in the morning without any official charge being opened but that wasn’t the end of the attacks. She was subjected to night raids at her homestead by unknown assailants who are however suspected to be linked to the ruling Zanu-PF party, her stall at Nlondo Business Centre was even broken into, with all the windows and doors broken down, and all her wares looted,” said a villager on condition of anonymity.

It is further reported that following the attacks, Chipo and her son, five-year-old son, Mthokozisi Cody Ndlovu were taken in by neighbouring villagers for protection.

“She was now living in fear, which is why as villagers we decided to intervene and offer her temporary sanctuary. But this was also risky because we were also threatened that whoever took them in would be attacked. It was so bad that even her son was also targeted at school but fortunately he was no longer going to school. Teachers told us that some unknown people, who were wearing Zanu-PF regalia, had come looking for him.

“As is we do not know where Chipo and her son are, as she just told us that she did not feel safe and would rather go into hiding away from the village. It is especially sad that this is someone who just wanted to make a living through selling her wares,” said the villager.