AT least six Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) officials — one of them a former military general — have been hospitalised after they were allegedly savagely attacked with machetes and axes by Zanu PF activists in Guruve on Sunday. BY RICHARD CHIDZA/JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Source: Zanu PF brutalises Mujuru allies – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 27, 2016
The clashes were allegedly triggered by Zanu PF youths, who invaded ZimPF official Obert Mutasa’s plot at Dunaventy Farm, accusing him of defecting to Mujuru’s party.
ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire, yesterday confirmed that six party officials were savagely attacked and were under heavy police guard at a private hospital in Bindura.
“I can confirm that six of our officials were brutalised by Zanu PF youths over a farm at the weekend,” he said.
“They reported the matter to the police in Guruve, but to our surprise they are now being detained while in hospital. There are six heavily-armed police details guarding those in hospital, with one of them holding an AK47 rifle.”
Among the six, Mawarire said, was war veteran and former ambassador, Retired Brigadier General Agrippa Mutambara, now a senior official in the opposition party.
Mawarire accused the government of using Nazi-type tactics against its opponents.
Tension escalated following ZimPF leader and former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s rally in the province early this month, with ruling party activists seeking to smoke out identified opposition supporters in the Zanu PF stronghold.
Mashonaland Central, which is Mujuru’s home province, could be an election battleground given it has been a Zanu PF stronghold since independence in 1980.
ZimPF Mashonaland Central provincial interim chairperson, Godfrey Chimombe, said the opposition party’s officials had been held incommunicado for four days.
“We survived death by a whisker. Trouble began when we went to Guruve to rescue our members, who were being illegally detained or held under house arrest by Zanu PF thugs for four days,” he said.
“The youths were singing outside and were being denied food. We sought assistance from the police in Guruve, but they refused. They even refused to open a case on the issue. People were beaten and the provincial youth chairperson, Titus Manyika, had his Ford Ranger vehicle vandalised.
“The police and CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) operatives congratulated the Zanu PF youths for what they did. The worst part is that our members, who were assaulted and are seeking medication at Shashi Hospital in Bindura, now stand accused of the violence.”
Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Milton Mundembe, said he was yet to get details of the clashes.
Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Dickson Mafios, said he was away and had not been briefed on the matter.
“I am actually in Gweru on my way from Bulawayo. I have no information on the violence,” he said.
COMMENTS
THIS ACTS OF STATE SPONSORED VIOLENCE ARE NOW CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND THE WORLD CANNOT LIE BY AND WATCH (THIS SOCCER}.NHAI MAI MUJURU,TODII,DAI TONGO ANGA ARIPO.
“I can confirm that six of our officials were brutalised by Zanu PF youths over a farm at the weekend. …. Among the six, … was war veteran and former ambassador, Retired Brigadier General Agrippa Mutambara, ….”, said Mawarire.
Whilst we, the democratic & peace loving citizens, sympathize with anyone who suffers brutality in the hands of violent zanu pf & the zanunized security & law enforcement agents, we continue to note that, this is a barbaric & brutal system the leaders of ZimPF – Joice, Dydimus, Agripa, etc. – worked hand-in-glove with their erstwhile colleagues still in zanu pf, to build & nurture for over 30 years. The question is, did they ever had any plan for dismantling the animal they created – what is that plan? They should not just whim like innocent victims – they are not innocent victims at all. They are very different from Tsvangi, Biti, Mwonzora, etc. They actively participated in creating the brutal system; and they are simply testing a portion of their bitter concoction which they used to gleefully administer to others. So, can they give us solutions, please!
spot on and kudos to you mate
THESE ACTS OF BANDITRY AGAINST INNOCENT,PEACEFUL CIVILIANS ARE A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY AND THE INERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL END UP INTERVENING.WHEN THIS HAPPENS THEY WILL SAY ITS SANCTIONS.IT LOOKS LIKE THESE THUGS ALL HIDE THEIR GRIEVOUS MISTAKES THRU SANCTIONS.THEY ARE COWARDS IN NATURE,THAS WHY THEY DO THIS.A CIVILISED MAIN SHOULD ADMIT FAILURE AND DEFEAT SHOULD A NEED ARISE
.THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS RIGHT AND BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR FAILURES ARE CASTLES BUILT IN AIR.
this is a crime against humanity being commited by the state against its citizens which claims it freed from white minority.all opposition forces should see to it that a way has to be found to bring to book all the pepetrators of this violence.where are you TONGO.MAI MUJURU,BABA TSWANGIRAI,NCUBE,BITI,SIMBA,DUMISO NAVAMWE VOSE,TODII NE MHONDI IDZI?
titus manyika,max,mahofis,mathias manyere please continue building the nation go ple first go
titus manyika,mahofisi,manokore and mathias manyere the provincial chairman of students,,,you are doing well,,,go people first go