By Civic Society Reporter
Chipinge Residents and Ratepayers Trust (CRRT) has issued a public alert today on 10 August 2025, warning of an alarming escalation in threats and intimidation aimed at its leadership and staff.
Over the past week, all four CRRT employees, including Team Leader Allanviny Murozvi, have been receiving a series of menacing phone calls from unknown individuals. The Trust reports that these calls involve threats of physical violence, acts of intimidation, threats of arbitrary arrests, suspected phone hacking and surveillance.
These aggressive tactics appear to be in direct retaliation of CRRT’s steadfast stance against planned forced evictions in Mutandahwe and other parts of Chipinge District—evictions reportedly linked to mining developments.
“No amount of intimidation will deter our mission to promote transparency, accountability, and justice for all residents of Chipinge District,” affirmed Allanviny Murozvi, highlighting CRRT’s unwavering commitment.
CRRT’s long-standing record in protecting community land and resource rights includes opposing exploitative and unregulated mining activities—such as illegal gold mining, unsafe copper exploration, and coal-related displacement—as well as advocating for the rights of women and marginalized groups experiencing land violations. Through peaceful advocacy, legal pursuits, and community awareness efforts, the Trust has worked to shield residents from unlawful evictions.
“The company has not formally introduced itself to the community…The entire process lacks transparency and accountability,” Murozvi commented—referencing recent instances where mining firms began operations without meaningful engagement with local stakeholders .
In response to the threats, CRRT calls upon Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and law enforcement agencies to urgently investigate the threats and ensure protection for CRRT leadership and staff.
CRRT remains resolute: its principled, non-partisan advocacy for transparency, accountability, and justice will not be silenced.
Chipinge is no stranger to tensions around land rights. In July 2025, CRRT publicly raised concerns about coal exploration activities by Muzururi Mining Development—operations that were reportedly underway without proper community engagement or regulatory approval .
Such developments—as well as historic land disputes and evictions—have placed communities and defenders like CRRT in vulnerable positions.