First Lady allegedly imposes curfew around Mazowe Dam

Despite spirited attempts by Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Martin Dinha that First Lady Grace Mugabe has not grabbed the state-owned Mazowe Dam, it is reported that she has imposed an unofficial curfew in the area. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and a hired gang of youth militia are alleged to be arresting and detaining anyone found moving near the dam at night or in the early morning. The vilagers allege that the dam has been privatised by First Lady Grace Mugabe, saying that the requirement to have a permit from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) in order to fish in the dam was a way of legitimising the seizure of the dam.

Chairperson of Arnold (Manzou) Farm Residents’ Association Innocent Dube spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent saying:

The curfew starts late in the night from around 10pm up until 4am in the early hours of the following morning. If one is caught walking around at that time they are either detained or forced to pay a bribe of US$2. The people who carry out these curfews will either be the police from the Support Unit or youth militia whose base is at Manzou Farm compound.

We have so many reports of people who have been detained. We believe it is Amai (Grace) who ordered the curfew because it is being implemented by police officers manning the boom gate and people who work at her dairy farm.

Another vilager said:

Dinha said only seven permits will be issued and that it costs US$200 to apply for a permit, which we consider to be too high and unaffordable. It’s a smart way of chasing us away,

Despite the US$200 which is very expensive, Zimparks has also stated that it will come to vet the kind of tools and nets that we use. This is a tough condition because we do not use sophisticated nets and boats. We use our traditional hand-made nets and boats. It’s clear they don’t want us at the dam anymore.

More: Independent