MDC-T condemns endless attacks on its supporters

By Nomalanga Moyo

MDC supporters are facing a campaign of violence and harassment at the hands of ZANU PF activists, in what is being seen as post-election retribution. 

On Saturday in Mutoko North, MDC-T losing parliamentary candidate Givemore Chinopfumbuka and four others, were hauled before the area’s headman for allegedly insulting traditional leaders during the run up to the July 31st elections.

Chinopfumbuka told SW Radio Africa correspondent Lionel Saungweme that they have been summoned to appear before Headman Rutsito after a week, to face judgement. The MDC-T activists fear being banished from the area if found ‘guilty’.

In Mberengwa East, suspected ZANU PF activists are making anonymous phone calls to MDC-T members and threatening them with unspecified action.

According to Saungweme the caller, who claims to be based in Harare, usually tells his victims that he is aware of their MDC-T related activities before threatening to “sort them out”.

“This has been going on for more than a week. A report has been made to the police but so far, there have been no arrests,” Saungweme added.

In Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, ZANU PF militia reportedly attacked and displaced an MDC-T local council candidate for Ward 5 in the recent elections. In a statement the MDC-T said Gift Kapawu, his wife and four children have since sought refuge elsewhere.

The MDC-T said: “The ZANU PF militia, who were heavily armed with knobkerries and machetes, accused Kapawu of daring to contest against their candidate in the just ended disputed elections. The thugs went on to destroy Kapawu’s homestead and stole some household goods.

“Kapawu reported the incident to the police at Chitsungo police station, but no action has been taken,” the party said.

Condemning the attack on Kapawu, the MDC-T said it was disturbed that ZANU PF continued with such attacks, even when they claim to be victors in the just ended elections.

“The continued persecution of people of dissenting and divergent views by ZANU PF clearly exposes the level of intolerance entrenched in the party,” the MDC-T said. Across the border in Musina South Africa, a surge in refugee numbers has been observed since the disputed election result.

Pastor Simon Sithole, a patron at Musina Compassion Refugee Centre, told The Zimbabwean newspaper that the centre was struggling to cope with the influx of refugees who were fleeing political victimisation.

“We need support to manage these escalating numbers because now we have more than 8,000 Zimbabweans at the centre and most of them are sleeping in the open,” Sithole told the paper. SW Radio Africa