Zanu PF Chitungwiza violence in pictures
What started off as a cool Sunday turned bloody yesterday when dozens of MDC activists were seriously injured at Chibuku Stadium in Chitungwiza when suspected Zanu PF thugs descended on them. Using catapults, iron bars, machetes and stones, the thugs stormed the venue in the early hours of yesterday morning and attacked MDC activists who were preparing for a rally which was due later in the day.
Some of the activists suffered broken bones, head and body injuries, while some were bleeding heavily and were being treated at different hospitals in Harare. The first group of militias raided the stadium early in the morning demanding to use the stadium for a soccer match but the MDC activists reportedly told them the stadium had been booked for a rally.
Witnesses said a misunderstanding ensued, resulting in violence. The Zanu PF group is said to have initially retreated but returned about two hours later with reinforcements and armed with different weapons and started bashing the MDC activists. A perimeter wall at Chibuku Stadium collapsed during the violence. According to witnesses, as they were clobbering the MDC activists, they were singing revolutionary songs and damaged the PA system and stole other equipment.
The MDC said during the more than an hour-long assault, the police were not present.
