via ‘3 MDC-T arson survivors blocked from meeting Tsvangirai’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe May 26, 2015
Three MDC-T activists who sustained life-threatening injuries after they were petrol-bombed by suspected Zanu PF members in Zaka in the run-up to the bloody 2008 presidential run-off election yesterday claimed that they were being blocked by fellow party members from meeting their party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to discuss their plight.
BY MOSES MATENGA
The trio told NewsDay that some district and provincial MDC-T officials had vowed to block them from meeting Tsvangirai, accusing them of joining the wrong camp ahead of the party’s congress last October.
One of the torture victims, Eddison Gwenhure, told NewsDay yesterday that they recently tried to doorstep Tsvangirai at a campaign rally in Masvingo to share with him their personal problems, but blocked by the provincial leadership.
“We went to them (MDC-T officials) saying we wanted to see the president. It was myself and Isaac Mbanje who engaged them in the absence of Kudakwashe Tsumele who had a problem that day. The problem is still on because of the fights and we plead with the president to help. He must know about this,” Gwenhure said.
However, MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday professed ignorance over the matter.
“It’s news to me. The president’s door is open to all party cadres and we will not accept all those who want to push fights.
They (the victims) are more than welcome to liaise with the president’s office and if I can help, I can facilitate that they meet with our leader,” Gutu said.
The victims touched the heart of Tsvangirai’s wife, Elizabeth, in 2013 after narrating their ordeal and she pledged to assist them where possible.
Several MDC-T supporters perished at the hands of suspected Zanu PF activists and soldiers who attacked them during the campaign period, forcing Tsvangirai to pull out of the race citing persecution of his supporters.
The three sustained severe burns, while two other MDC-T activists, Washington Nyamwa and Chrison Mbano, were burnt beyond recognition after suspected Zanu PF militia petrol-bombed their party office in Zaka.
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