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| author/source:Zim Online (SA) |
| published:Wed 14-May-2008 |
| posted on this site:Wed 14-May-2008 |
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| Article Type : News |
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| Beating and torturing Zimbabweans into backing him |
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By Tendai Maronga and Nokhutula Sibanda
Harare - Zimbabwe’s opposition said on Tuesday eight more of its members were murdered in the last three days to bring to 32 the total number killed in political violence since March. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the latest deaths were reported in Mashonaland Central and Midlands provinces and in Harare as political violence – that began after the opposition defeated President Robert Mugabe’s government in the March 29 polls – threatens to engulf the entire nation. Chamisa said in Gokwe area in Midlands province, a senior army official, who locals were able to identify only as Major Moyo, was leading a ruling Zanu PF youth gang that had unleashed terror and murder in the area over the past week. "Today, the MDC received two reports of deaths in Gokwe Nembudziya following a week of unprecedented violence in the area. The Zanu PF militia led by one Major Moyo from the Zimbabwe National Army is perpetrating the violence," said Chamisa. The MDC spokesman said the Zanu PF militias last Sunday night murdered two members of the opposition party, Isaac Danda and another one identified only as Gomwe, as punishment for not supporting Mugabe.
Chamisa said: "According to witnesses Danda was stabbed with a knife and died on the spot while Gomwe was axed on the head and died on his way to Gokwe Hospital. The MDC House of Assembly candidate, Kizito Mbiriza attempted to make a report at Nembudziya Police Station but was instead arrested by the police and is still in police custody." A number of MDC supporters who own businesses in the area had these destroyed by the Zanu PF youths, according to Chamisa. The MDC official spoke as United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator Agostinho Zacarias told journalists in Harare that the escalating post-election violence could soon reach crisis levels at a time when humanitarian agencies and their partners had scaled down operations. Zacarias said his office was receiving an increasing number of reports and requests for humanitarian assistance from people affected by political violence that he blamed on "some elements of the security forces, youth militias, war veterans and gangs of supporters of both Zanu PF and MDC." There was no immediate reaction from the police or the government to Zacarias’ and the MDC’s claims of worsening violence.
Chamisa said an MDC member, Nelson Emmanuel, 29, from Harare South constituency was buried last Sunday after Zanu PF youths beat him to death at his home in Hopley Farm, on the capital’s southern boundary. Three more MDC supporters were murdered over the past three days in Uzumba district in Mashonaland East province. Chamisa identified the deceased as Musafare Mudimu, Karombe Benson Chipingu both of Manyika village and Ruth Mushayahembe of Chimbwanda village. In Shamva North in Mashonaland Central province, Zanu PF youths and some war veterans axed to death Elias Madzivanzira and his wife because they were members of the MDC. Madzivanzira was the headman for Ward 8 in the area. Political violence broke out in many parts of Zimbabwe almost immediately after it became clear that the MDC and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai had defeated Mugabe and his Zanu PF party in the March polls. The MDC, Western governments and human rights groups have accused Mugabe of unleashing Zanu PF militias and the army to beat and torture Zimbabweans into backing him in a second round presidential ballot. The run-off presidential election is due to be held at a yet unknown date after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe but failed to garner more than 50 percent of the vote needed to take power under the country's electoral laws.
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